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.
Sorry OP but you've blown your chance at your school's nursing program. I'm sure that you didn't realize the consequences of taking an Rx med that didn't belong to you but that doesn't change your current situation. IMO your best option now is to withdraw from your current school and begin applying to other schools in the area. Future employers and schools will not have access to the results of this drug test so you are not likely to face more any more severe consequences at this time. However, I hope that you have learned from this situation. If you do become a nurse then this type of mistake could cost you your career. Be warned.
I am having a very hard time believing that her chances are blown. If she is already accepted to the program, I think it is worth it to pursue the issue. Acknowledging that she made a mistake and taking that responsibility are important. Just my opinion. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
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.
It's not going to help, unfortunately. You took a controlled substance without a prescription and are applying to enter a program where you will be surrounded by controlled substances. I don't think they will let you in at all.
I guess I am a bit unclear on this. Your mother GAVE you this medication to take? Right before a drug test? And why were you all worked up over a drug test to begin with? With all that being said, it makes me sad that you are continuing to blame yourself--you didn't "mess up" you were listening to your mother, who I am unclear on what the motivation of her actions were.
There seems to be more to this situation than you have indicated. To be blunt, there seems to be a lot of sabotage happening, the specifics of which is none of my business, and at this point not exactly relevant.
However, my suggestion is that going forward you seek some assistance in controlling your anxiety. That you speak to your academic advisor on how to proceed with your education and defer the clinical portion--which is what I am assuming the drug test was for. That you perhaps look into a summer schedule of a certification (ie:medical coding, informatics) then decide if you want to proceed in the fall with your nursing education when you are able to get all of your ducks in a row.
You need options and choices. You need to be informed of where all of your classes stand at present--and degree options. Just until you are able to manage your anxiety.
Unfortunately, if the thought of a pee test gets you into a state of panic, the pressure and pace of clinicals may not be the best thing for you right now.
Speaking of peeing, don't get into a peeing contest with Mom. What's done is done, and regardless of the circumstances surrounding this, you need to change up your dynamic going forward. Whomever you see about your anxiety can assist with this as well.
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.
I think you should talk to your administrator before the drug test results are sent out to them. That is what my program suggest. It'll show that you were honest and maybe they'll work with you because I think they have to present that to the board.
I guess I am a bit unclear on this. Your mother GAVE you this medication to take? Right before a drug test? And why were you all worked up over a drug test to begin with? With all that being said, it makes me sad that you are continuing to blame yourself--you didn't "mess up" you were listening to your mother, who I am unclear on what the motivation of her actions were.
There seems to be more to this situation than you have indicated. To be blunt, there seems to be a lot of sabotage happening, the specifics of which is none of my business, and at this point not exactly relevant.
However, my suggestion is that going forward you seek some assistance in controlling your anxiety. That you speak to your academic advisor on how to proceed with your education and defer the clinical portion--which is what I am assuming the drug test was for. That you perhaps look into a summer schedule of a certification (ie:medical coding, informatics) then decide if you want to proceed in the fall with your nursing education when you are able to get all of your ducks in a row.
You need options and choices. You need to be informed of where all of your classes stand at present--and degree options. Just until you are able to manage your anxiety.
Unfortunately, if the thought of a pee test gets you into a state of panic, the pressure and pace of clinicals may not be the best thing for you right now.
Speaking of peeing, don't get into a peeing contest with Mom. What's done is done, and regardless of the circumstances surrounding this, you need to change up your dynamic going forward. Whomever you see about your anxiety can assist with this as well.
Best wishes.
S/he was stressed about moving away to school, starting nursing school, etc not the drug test and mom offered an anxiolytics. I don't find that sabotaging. It's something that the lay public doesn't grasp about sharing Rx medication and they don't understand narcotics and what other drugs are considered "drugs of abuse" mom was just trying to help - it looks like to me. It was poor timing and poor judgment on the students part - as they are now aware.
The spot in that program is likely jeopardized however it's done and over with and will should not come back to haunt the student in the future when applying to other schools.
I do agree that the student definitely needs to get anxiety under control whether it be with medications or otherwise because nursing school is vey anxiety inducing.
OP do you happen to have access to a copy of the student handbook. That may be a good place to get guidance on your school's specific re-testing, or positive test policy. However, I don't think I would divulge the details of what happened unless absolutely necessary.
Basically, from this point the program will get your results as positive (not sure if the testing company can divulge what was positive or not). It is their discretion according to their policy how they handle these situations. I assure you that you are not the first and will not be the last to be in this situation - be it recreational use or a one time error, as in your case. Heck, I know of a few people in my cohort who had to withdraw and defer for this exact reason.
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.
She may have not known the legal consequences or value put on Ativan or the depth (so-called) of her indiscretion. Heck before I started in this 'field' I didn't know what 'value' Valium had and 'offered' it to a friend who was in pain. I didn't know the severity of it. I wouldn't even have cared if my mom used it without asking. That is how 'non-healthcare' professionals (and young) can interpret things.
Specializes in UR/PA, Hematology/Oncology, Med Surg, Psych.
I'm curious, why are tricyclic antidepressants part of the usual drug test? I've kind of always wondered about that. Are they abused substances for some reason I don't understand?
Only your nursing school can tell you the possible consequences.
" I took it without hesitation because it a pretty universally used drug. " I am unsure of which universe you are in.. but in this one ,people do not ingest benzos prescribed for other people.
Presenting your case as "I am an idiot" will most likely not get you into nursing school.
Sorry, OP. I wish I had some hope to offer you, but I don't. Every school I applied to had a strict drug policy and if you screened positive, you were out. No questions asked.
You can try to talk to your administration, but it won't help.
I feel your pain, though. My mom's side of the family passes Xanax around like it's Tic-Tacs. I've told them a hundred times that it's illegal, but they do it anyway. They also share their prescriptions of whatever they have, even antibiotics. Not the most medically literate folks.
I'm curious why are tricyclic antidepressants part of the usual drug test? I've kind of always wondered about that. Are they abused substances for some reason I don't understand?[/quote']
I've had the same question! Who on earth would want to abuse a TCA?? I've found minimal info online. TCAs aren't controlled. My neuro doc screens me for TCAs to confirm I'm taking it because I loathe the SEs. He prescribes a low-dose Nortriptyline as a migraine preventative and I think I have to really watch my weight because of that little sucker! What 40-something year old woman wants to take a pill that causes weight gain, am I right??
"Although the majority of patients on antidepressant therapy are not taking the drugs for nonmedical use or abusing them, there is a potential for misuse; this is particularly concerning due to a link between mood disorders and comorbid substance use disorders that may increase the vulnerability of patients taking antidepressants to misuse or abuse their medications. While the majority of cases between the 1960s to the 1990s involved monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI), in the last decade, the most commonly cited antidepressant for misuse has been bupropion, primarily via intranasal administration. In the case of tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) abuse, the majority of reports tend to involve tertiary TCAs, possibly due to their anticholinergic and antihistaminergic effects. Although they are a popular choice for depression treatment, few cases of abuse have been reported with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). The increased availability of prescription medications, along with websites selling controlled substances without a prescription, are factors attributed to the increase in antidepressant misuse. Patients most often report abusing antidepressants to achieve a psychostimulant-like effect. Clinical tools for assessing risk of misuse or abuse of antidepressants, particularly in patients with depressive symptoms, should be utilized by physicians prior to initiating treatment; currently there are no guidelines for treating depressed patients misusing or abusing antidepressants."
Boomer MS, RN
511 Posts
I am having a very hard time believing that her chances are blown. If she is already accepted to the program, I think it is worth it to pursue the issue. Acknowledging that she made a mistake and taking that responsibility are important. Just my opinion. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.