Very Concerned (please read)

Boog'sCRRN246, RN · May 24, 2010

I don't know where you guys have been going to school, but where I've gone, the school has to provide a list of the names of students that will be using the facility for clinicals. This failed drug test might not show up on a background check, but if the school has to provide a list, and your name is on it, I'd have to say a red flag would be raised.

juliaann · May 24, 2010

As far as I know, the only drug test needed was the one for my program...since you said you had to take one for your CNA class (which I'm assuming you passed) and you will need to take one for the LPN program (which now you know you need to stay away from the pot for in order to pass), shouldn't that be all that matters? As far as I know none of the facilities I had clinicals at knew who was coming what days...maybe that will be the case for the OP as well.

vegas2009 · May 24, 2010

Don't beat yourself up for it. It only makes sense for schools to do background checks on their nursing students. Mainly, for the benefit of the clinical facilities. But, I've always thought that --> they're only checking for DUI's, criminal charges, etc., nothing minor. But, I'm not sure about pot though.

Maybe you shouldn't say anything, 'til they ask you point blank? If someone asks you concerning your issue, then be straight with them.

You sure have a sticky situation. I wish I could be more help.

JEAN09 · May 24, 2010

Well it is uncommon for a facility to ask for drug testing. But as long as u are clean when the school ask for the drug testing i don't see a problem. But one thing i should add is that when u are planning to have a career in the medical field u need to think about the future. And how your actions can easily crush your dreams. Also you should talk to the instructors or an administrator prior to them finding out. It best for you to talk to them instead of them finding out. Its best to be as honest as possible.

Editorial Team / Admin · May 25, 2010

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ClumsyRN · May 25, 2010

I live in IL and when we did our clinicals, depending on the site they would require a mandatory drug test. and the school does do background checks before they accepts you but they check ur background with the police station. unless the nursing home reported you, i don't think the school would know.

You sound very regretful of what happened, i hope all goes well for you.

Heogog53 · May 25, 2010

You can look up your state nursing board on line, and see what they have to say about drug testing of any type, and how it/they can be used against you- or if it matters at all. Look under general information.

I have been drug tested for years- all of us have- and it so happens that I take pain medication and stimulants. Before I did the test, I brought in all my meds, wrote out all my meds along with how I was supposed to take them, etc.

I was extended a job offer. They planned to get me into the following week's orientation. That Thursday before, I get a panicky phone call from HR. Very quietly, as if it were passing secret information in a James Bond movie, I was informed that I had tested positive for ~~~gasp~~~ amphetamines. I went through the whole song dance about why my test was positive. Dead air at the other end of the phone. Politely I asked if my doctor could write something for them. Another moment of silence....and then the people at the other end of the line returned and told me that I JUST HAD to get a hand written copy of 'scrip in before close of business, the next day. It was taken care of in no time. What completely caught me off guard was that there were no questions about the narcotics/other medications, just that BIG ONE.

Will you be taking another drug test for school? I'd think so; they like the freshest and newest of tests. If it's negative, the school will be happy with you. If you are in a hospital school of nursing, at that point, once you pass, they accept you, etc, go talk to risk management about your previous test. How long was it? Six months? A year? If risk management accepts your present negative test and the school has as well, then you ought to have some backing from your school. Keep open communication with them.

Now, if you test negative and they find about that the test you took 2 months ago was positive, then you will have a problem. If they've offered placement and then take it away, call a personal injury lawyer- first discussion is free, and they'll tell you if you have a case and if so, what to do next. If you don't have a case, they may be able to explain why your error is a problem- and for how long. It may be a year of limbo, but if a lawyer accepts a case on contingency, they you haven;t lost anything.

I wish you the best of luck.

gr8rnpjt, RN · May 25, 2010

I can't say for sure (no one can) as we don't have a crystal ball, however, the reason why this might be a big deal has more to do with State medicare and medicaid laws. Facilities can lose their state accredidation if they knowingly allow clinicians who have failed drug tests.

If I were you I would come clean with the school and ask for some direction. That way, it can't come back later to bite you, as if you conceal it, when and if they find out, you will most probably be removed from the program.

RAKelleyPN10 · May 25, 2010

Personally I would avoid the facility and ask for a new assignment, I know from my experience with clinical, Only hospitals and government agencies (MRDD) required a background check so you should be okay. Just don't do it again and learn from your mistakes.

And to TTA go easy, would you scold your patients if you found out they did something wrong? I would hope not, I would hope you would politely educate them on the mistake and suggest a course of corrective action. I know hes not a patient, but at some point in our lives we all are a patient.

futurenicunurse2008 · May 25, 2010

No, I don't need to give anyone a break. My comments were not about whether or not I agree that pot should be legalized etc, etc, etc. That has been discussed on this board ad nauseum.
Whether any of us agrees that pot is harmless, not harmless, should be legal, is just the same as a drink, whatever, isn't the issue here. What is the issue is that we all know the rules as they apply in the real world today, and the real world says that if you smoke pot before taking a drug test well guess what, you are probably going to fail it. And you know what, I have trouble having a lot of sympathy for anyone who does fail a test and then wants to whine about it afterwards.

I agree I am not trying to be a nasty person and I understand making mistakes but there is such a thing as personal responsibility and thinking about the consequences of your actions. I see this sort of thing alot in our out pt program (im an addictions nurse) we have pt fail test that are on probation and end up going to jail because of a lapse in judgement or giving into peer pressure. THINK BEFORE YOU ACT. It will come back to bite you.

ZooMommyRN, ADN, RN · May 25, 2010

I think the heart of this is, did you smoke pot knowing you were about to attempt entry into a profession that is known to randomly drug test it's employees more often than any other employer in the US including the military, or did the decision to join the profession come after? It was not banned/outlawed over night, you knew the second you sucked it in that it was illegal. Now it's what you make of it, be upfront and honest, if this is found out later then you could be dismissed from the program on ethics violation, if they know you screwed up once and learned from it they most likely will just target you more often for randoms. I'm not sure if the nursing home is "allowed" to directly share the nature of the red flag but we all know people talk. Take this and learn from it, move forward.

GM2RN · May 25, 2010

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