Drug Testing At Hospitals

Nurses General Nursing

Updated:   Published

Hi, I was just wondering if nurses have to take random drug tests for illegal drugs? Don't worry, I'm not a druggie nursing student I was just wondering. We had to do them all the time in the Navy. Thanks.

Specializes in primary care, pediatrics, OB/GYN, NICU.

Where I work now we supposedly have random drug screens, but I have never been asked to take one. Every time I've been newly hired for a position however I have had to take a drug test. What gets me is that it is SO humiliating - the lab people treat you like you are a convicted criminal, not someone simply being screened for a job. I do worry about it sometimes, because I have had to occasionally take a (prescribed) very small dose xanax for anxiety AFTER a rough shift, never on duty. I have had to take vicodin when I have the rare migraine....of course I'm not working when I have a migraine... but still, I don't want to have to share this with anyone. I think we are entitled to some privacy as long as we aren't taking these meds while working a shift or close enough to impair an upcoming shift. It's really none of their business if I take an antidepressant (I've heard welbutrin can affect these tests?) or have migraines and killer menstrual cramps!

1 Votes
Specializes in High Risk In Patient OB/GYN.

I'm tired of hearing "Well, if you have nothing to hide..."

I have nothing to hide. I haven't taken anything stronger than a Midrin for my migraines or a Motrin 800 with a hot pack for my horrid cramps in months and months. Never touched a benzo (well, physically touched, yeah, lol), haven't smoked MJ in I don't even know how long, never used crack, heroin, speed, meth, etc etc etc. I don't smoke tobacco, and the last drink I had was maybe 3-4 months ago?

So no, I have nothing to hide. But I feel it's not their right to know what I do in my off time. I am against random/regular drug testing. Sue me.

Now, if there is a reason to test, then do it. Narcs are missing? Employee is showing signs of some sort of intoxication? There was a witnessing of a staff member using some sort of drug/alcohol? Then yeah, drug test away...

Kelly

1 Votes
Specializes in ER, Family Practice, Free Clinics.
KellNY said:
I'm tired of hearing "Well, if you have nothing to hide..."...

Now, if there is a reason to test, then do it. Narcs are missing? Employee is showing signs of some sort of intoxication? There was a witnessing of a staff member using some sort of drug/alcohol? Then yeah, drug test away...

Kelly

Exactly.

1 Votes
Specializes in Med-Surg, OB/GYN, L/D, NBN.

I have never been tested. However, nothing I take has not been prescribed so I dont think I would have a problem. I did worry for a little while because I was prescribed Adipex through the internet. I had to complete a medical questionnaire, a doctor evaluated it and the "prescription" was sent to a pharmacy and the medicine came in perfectly legal bottle, with directions for use, information about the drug, name of pharmacy, name of doctor, name of drug, etc. Therefore, it seems perfectly legal to me. However, for a little while (and in some of my panicky moments) I still kinda get paranoid. LOL.. Im strange like that though. (BTW, med comes from inside U.S.)

I even told me nursing director about it... to get a second opinion. Turns out, her, another director and the DON *all* do the same exact thing.... LOL

1 Votes

Dorimar, Please don't be so confident...

As I stated , he was uncomfortable because his supervisor was out of town; an unannounced "supervisor" showed up and demanded he take a drug test. He had no clue as to the chain of command, did not know who was in charge, and felt uncomfortable at being pulled off the floor and taking orders from someone he had no interactions with before.

Not all of us take orders like robots, nor should we. Taking a job does not mean invalidation of our rights.

1 Votes

I think testing while doing pre employment stuff, and then testing on the job with cause is good enough. However; if you take a job at a place that you know does do random testing then don't gripe about it b/c you knew before you signed on. However I do agree that the lab people treat you like a criminal with the don't wash your hands until I see them, don't flush, don't touch this, yada yada. But hey it's just a job to them so whateves it's not like I am peeing forever usually a few min in the bathroom then i'm out so no bigge to me. The part that takes the longest is just getting back there so I can pee in the cup geeesh talk about a loooong wait.

1 Votes
Specializes in Acute Care Psych, DNP Student.
JoeyDog said:
However I do agree that the lab people treat you like a criminal with the don't wash your hands until I see them, don't flush, don't touch this, yada yada. But hey it's just a job to them so whateves it's not like I am peeing forever usually a few min in the bathroom then I'm out so no bigge to me. The part that takes the longest is just getting back there so I can pee in the cup geeesh talk about a loooong wait.

I have an uncle who cheats on his urine screens. He is diabetic and insulin dependent. He said something about this being a problem with being a truck driver? I suspect he likes to partake of the MJ too. He takes in urine from a child (I don't know how?) and presents it as his own. Something about a ziplock bag. How he fools them, I don't know. Frankly, I'm glad he's 2000 miles from me. But there ya go. This is why the lab staff must do these things.

1 Votes
KellNY said:
MJ smoked 2 weeks ago on my my vacation in Cancun ;)

kelly

;)

1 Votes
Specializes in ICU/CCU, CVICU, Trauma.
KellNY said:
Excuse me, but maybe they're taking legally prescribed drugs that they are uncomfortable with their employer knowing about.

Maybe they take a Xanax before bed every once in a while because they get anxiety attacks after working a full unit. Maybe they have a bad back from lifting too many patients without enough staff to assist and were prescribed Percocet or Norco. And you know what--that's no one elses business, really.

(I'm also of the apparently unpopular mindset that if a nurse smokes MJ occasionally on her days off, that is also no one elses business--as long as it's not affecting her job performance, but that's beside the point)

FTR, I don't take/do anything at this point in my life that would show up on any drug screen, but I would be opposed to taking one. (probably not opposed enough that I'd lose my job for it, LOL, but opposed enough that if I were to choose between being employed at a hospital that does drug testing vs. one that doesn't--all other areas equal--I'd go to the non drug testing facility)

Employee drug testing is done for patient safety.

Did you know that if they test your hair for marijuana it can come up positive even after 30 days?

I would rather be a patient in a drug testing hospital.

1 Votes
Specializes in ICU/CCU, CVICU, Trauma.
KellNY said:
I'm tired of hearing "Well, if you have nothing to hide..."

I have nothing to hide. I haven't taken anything stronger than a Midrin for my migraines or a Motrin 800 with a hot pack for my horrid cramps in months and months. Never touched a benzo (well, physically touched, yeah, LOL), haven't smoked MJ in I don't even know how long, never used crack, heroin, speed, meth, etc etc etc. I don't smoke tobacco, and the last drink I had was maybe 3-4 months ago?

So no, I have nothing to hide. But I feel it's not their right to know what I do in my off time. I am against random/regular drug testing. Sue me.

Now, if there is a reason to test, then do it. Narcs are missing? Employee is showing signs of some sort of intoxication? There was a witnessing of a staff member using some sort of drug/alcohol? Then yeah, drug test away...

Kelly

What you do in your "off time" may affect how you function at work, even though you do not feel impaired. So I am for random drug testing. Employers should do it more often.

1 Votes

I find the idea of random drug testing insulting. I don't use drugs, but there an employer should have no right to test me. I heard about a company that test for smoking, and if you don't quite smoking they fire you. Employees need to stand up and stop letting there company's rule there free time

1 Votes
Specializes in ICU/CCU, CVICU, Trauma.
Badi said:
I find the idea of random drug testing insulting. I don't use drugs, but there an employer should have no right to test me. I heard about a company that test for smoking, and if you don't quite smoking they fire you. Employees need to stand up and stop letting there company's rule there free time

Again, how can you be against something that promotes patient safety?

Are you against mandatory PPD testing? Many employees "say" they do not use drugs, but people lie. The company that tests for smoking wants lower insurance premiums. It boggles my mind that anyone can be against something that is in the patients' best interest. If you know a company's requirements & disagree, just do not apply. They have their right to require drug testing. And you have your right to not apply for work with them. Don't worry about everyone else.

1 Votes
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