Another drug test thread

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Hi,

First of all, I don't use any illegal drugs, so even though I have a pre-employment drug test coming up, I wasn't worried about it at all. After reading all the threads recently on drug testing, substance abuse, etc., I have a question: is ETOH one of the substances screened for on a pre-employment test for a RN position? I'm curious if anyone knows it's necessary to completely abstain for a day or two before the test. Please don't think I'm a drunk just for asking, it's just that it's on a Monday, and I didn't know if I should alter my weekend plans...Thanks!

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

As long as you arrive sober, I doubt there will be an issue. :D And ETOH levels are only done by blood, as far as I'm aware, not by urinalysis.

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I know you can test blood or breath, I wasn't sure if there was a metabolite in the urine. I certainly wasn't planning on drinking before my appt, I'm not that nervous about it! I knew an RN who received a DUI, and I thought he told me that in order to keep his license, he had to have a weekly random urine screen that included ETOH. This was several years ago though, and so far as I know booze wasn't the only thing he was on at the time. I just wanted to make sure I couldn't lose a great job offer if I have a few legal adult beverages in my own living room while I watch football the night before! Thanks!

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

Good luck with your interview! :) You're right -- I didn't think about a breathalyzer. I just had to do a "whiz quiz" for employee health after I had the job offer.

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Specializes in Emergency.

Generally NO. Having done travel nursing and having had to test q13 weeks a bunch and I can speak from experience. They have several different screens they can do. They can run a 6, 9 or 10 panel screen. The 6 panel is the most common as it is the cheapest. In fact I have only seen the 9 once and never have seen the 10, unless it was a post accident truck driver-- ie federal test.

RJ

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