Anyone else employer not drug test you?

Nurses General Nursing

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So I just got this government nursing job, and surprisingly I never had to pee in a cup.

And all they did for the medical evaluation is draw my blood (Hep C titer) and TB test me. They didn't check my vitals, they didn't examine my body, they didn't make me pee in a cup. They call me a few weeks later saying my medical evaluation was fine and background check came clean and told me I'm hired.

Isn't that a bit unusual?

Specializes in mental health / psychiatic nursing.

The ALF I worked for didn't drug test me. I had to have proof of vaccination and recent TB screen, and had to be finger printed for some requirement with the state, but no drug test. The no drug test is unusual, but to my knowledge employers can chose to screen or not screen. My contract did say that they *could* screen at employer discretion. No employer I've been with has done an in-depth physical.

Outside of the US this is normal, never heard of any drug testing for employment outside of the US.

Specializes in Hospice / Psych / RNAC.

Hep C? Wouldn't that be an antibody check to see how your viral load is...of course there are many tests for hep C but I think and that's if you're infected with the hep C virus...I think you meant hep B.

Are you in the U.S.? if so, that is major strange. I worked for the state once and we had to pee whenever they felt the whim.

Specializes in ICU, LTACH, Internal Medicine.

Re. Hep C: where do you think the numbers about incidence/prevalence are coming from? Providers cannot follow every guideline, and cannot force patients into testing and cannot ge forced to report everything to CDC. So, yeah, since approximately mid 50th goverment workers are "contributing for research" this way, just like Marines are playing perpetual guiney pig roles for pharm industry. Do not want to do it? Don't work for goverment.

Re. drug testing: it is coming. Tests cost a whole lot, and potential lawsuits from those unfairly accused cost even more. The end of "everyone peeing in cup" is within reach.

I have had a few places not drug test me initially. These places tend to have high turnover rates. I know it's more uncommon in other countries.

I've had two nursing jobs (in the US Midwest), and neither of them have required me to pee in a cup. TB and immunization verification, but nothing else. They were also not government jobs though.

Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

When I worked for the state, no health information, UDS or even a TB test were required. I thought that was weird because I'd had to pee in a cup for every other nursing job I had, but it was no big deal for the government.

I work at a big NY hospital, they don't drug test anyone except if you drive a vehicle.

Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

In my experience, many of the smaller employers that are owned by sole proprietors or partnerships do not always require drug testing prior to employment.

I am referring to family-owned nursing homes as well as privately owned hospices, home health companies, personal care group homes, etc.

Likewise, the ALF I worked at did not drug test. Apparently, its expensive.

Specializes in Urgent Care, Oncology.

I work for the State. I was drug tested and fingerprinted. I also have to do a Quantiferon yearly and was offered the MMR and Hep B vaccines. I work with homeless individuals, migrants, and refugees so I suppose I'm "at risk." I think it depends on what type of state nursing job you work? I do believe our nurse administrators who work exclusively in the office are not given the same options.

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