Improving Care through Drug Testing Education

Frontier Nursing University: Distance Education for Nurse-Midwives and Nurse Practitioners

Improving Care through Drug Testing Education
Presenter: Estella Wetzel, MSN, APRN, FNP-C
Duke Johnson & Johnson Nurse Leadership Fellow
FNU Alumni
FNU Preceptor

A current literature search demonstrates strong evidence that prescribers lack knowledge in drug test result interpretation skills. This deficit spans the spectrum of all prescribers. Results of inaccurately interpreted drug test results includes: patient loss of appropriate pain/psychiatric management, loss of access to care through dismissal from practice; potential loss of job, familial problems including loss of child custody and relationship problems, and the potential for incarceration; increased prescription drugs of abuse available for trafficking, increased risk of drug abuse/misuse, overdose and death. By understanding results of the urine drug test, prescribers will be able to appropriately manage patients prescribed controlled medications, increasing safety for patient and community. This educational presentation breaks down commonly prescribed controlled medications by metabolites to simplify interpretation and addresses cross-reactivity with non-controlled medications to decrease inaccurately interpreted drug test results.

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This session was presented as part of the 2019 Virtual Event Celebrating National Rural Health Day. Learn more at

Frontier Nursing University,Distance Education,Nurse-Midwives,Nurse Practitioners,Midwifery,Graduate Nursing,Rural Health,