So I am getting ready for bsn nursing school to start in the summer. One of the things that was required was a drug test. I took it without any hesitation, since I do not take any drugs. However, I did messed up before the drug test. Because of all the stress of moving, getting ready for nursing school, and personal life things my mother suggested I take one her lorazepam pill to help me calm down. I took it without hesitation because it a pretty universally used drug.
The part that I messed up at is that I took it before the drug test and it showed up. I obviously have no documentation saying that I have a prescription. So now I am kicking myself in the head and I don't know what to do.
What are the consequences for this? Will I be prevented to start? Are there any legal problems I should worry about? Can I retake it to show I am not an addict or have a problem with drugs? I am thinking of e-mailing my programs director to explain my situation and tell him "I am an idiot, I am not an addict, and I am very sorry. Please don't kick me out". Thoughts?
Specializes in Med Surg/ICU/Psych/Emergency/CEN/retired.
Your best bet would be to contact the school and give them a heads up and tell them exactly what happened. Don't wait for them to get the results. They may appreciate your honesty and make you take another test. don't wait for them to get the results.
This may sound a little harsh, but you are NOT nursing material. You took a controlled substance without a prescription. And to top this off, your mother gave it to you.
More than "a little." The OP made a mistake; let's not get carried away. Families share medication all the time, and most people don't realize that taking a controlled med prescribed for another family member, and shared voluntarily by that family member, is illegal. The OP's mom was trying to be helpful. I haven't heard anything yet that suggests to me that the OP is "NOT nursing material."
Really the drug testing company called me to say that they require documentations from me saying that I was prescribe the medicine. Otherwise they will go ahead and send it to the school. Wouldn't my school ask for a copy of my prescription as well?
Since you don't have documentation you will be reported as a failed drug test, positive for benzos. It may be in your best interest to withdraw from the program before they get the result and start next semester if they allow you to defer.
Really the drug testing company called me to say that they require documentations from me saying that I was prescribe the medicine. Otherwise they will go ahead and send it to the school. Wouldn't my school ask for a copy of my prescription as well?
No. If you had documentation of an Rx the test would be reported to the school as negative. The school has no access to your medical record outside of what you disclose. You are still protected by hipaa.
So from what I am hearing from everyone is that I messed up. My only question is if I should go ahead and e-mail the administration office to explain my situation and ask for a drug retake. Or rather should I just wait until they say something? I personally think it better for me to e-mail them.
If you have the option to defer/withdraw. Do it immediately. Don't tell administration anything. A failed drug test can most certainly be (and usually is) grounds for dismissal from the program.
Thanks elkpark, it exactly as it sounds. A mistake. I didn't have any bad ill and my mom was just looking out for me (she's feeling terrible about everything right now). I thought it was just the equivalent of taking an advil.
XNavyCorpsman- this was a mistake, a dumb one. I did not intend to do anything like this and mistakes will happen. Even you started a forum on an error you have done. I will be contacting the school first thing in the morning.
Specializes in Med Surg/ICU/Psych/Emergency/CEN/retired.
More than "a little." The OP made a mistake; let's not get carried away. Families share medication all the time, and most people don't realize that taking a controlled med prescribed for another family member, and shared voluntarily by that family member, is illegal. The OP's mom was trying to be helpful. I haven't heard anything yet that suggests to me that the OP is "NOT nursing material."
OP did make a mistake. Although I do think it is commonsense, in my opinion, that one should NOT take a prescription medication written for another person, especially a controlled substance, it is not the end of the world. To say the OP is not nursing material is more than harsh. Yikes.
The reason I took the medication is because I believed it was a very generic prescription for anxiety. That's the only reason. I was obviously wrong and won't make another mistake like that.
Specializes in Med Surg/ICU/Psych/Emergency/CEN/retired.
The reason I took the medication is because I believe it was a very generic prescription for anxiety. That's the only reason. I was obviously wrong and won't make another mistake like that.
I believe you. So you learned from your mistake! Part of the learning curve. We all make mistakes, and I'm not being patronizing. I hope you can move on and get into a program.
XNavyCorpsman
98 Posts
Do NOT email them, call them. If you email them or just don't say anything, forget about getting into that program.