Florida Nurse Employer Drug Diversion Investigation and Drug Testing

If your employer questions you about your medication administration/waste do not delay in contacting a nurse license defense attorney.  After you submit to an employer ordered drug test, most nurses are placed on leave pending the results of the drug screen.  Many nurses mistakenly believe that they will return to work when their drug test is negative.

In many cases, even when the drug test results are negative, the employer notifies the DEA, terminates the nurse, and reports the matter to the Department of Health for investigation.  Your employer may also refer you to the Intervention Project for Nurses (IPN).  

Many nurses contact IPN and are required to refrain from practice, pay for an expensive substance use evaluation, and submit to extensive drug testing.  Many nurses are unaware that they will be required to submit to a PEth test, a blood alcohol test that detects alcohol consumption for approximately 4 weeks prior to testing.  While alcohol is lawful, a positive PEth test frequently results in a substance use diagnosis and recommendation for treatment.   

IPN also prohibits the use of many lawfully prescribed controlled medications to include medical marijuana, Xanax, Ambien, Oxycodone, and many more.  Testing positive for one of the prohibited prescribed medications routinely results in the nurse receiving a substance use diagnosis, being required to refrain from using their prescription, in-patient treatment, and five (5) year monitoring contract with IPN.  

If you are questioned at work about your medication administration/wasting practices, and/or are drug tested, contact attorney Megan Blancho today for a free telephone consultation. 

Call today for a free telephone consultation. 800-659-7547

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