Employment Drug Test Questions

[booradley007]

Anticipate starting a new job soon and expect to do an employment drug test. I take Remeron, Welbutrin, and Buspar for depression and Mysoline and Topamax for essential tremor. I have been told that matabolites of some of these can show up as a positive on the basic urine drug screen....does anyone know if this is true?

In doing the drug test, it is my understanding that the lab will ask for a list of my medications. Will my employer receive that list?

Thanks.

[~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN]

I had to do a pre employment drug test for the first time for a new job. I think it is good, it can help weed out the potential future diverters. I've worked with too many of them. Yes, I am aware of the creative ways people can "beat" the test.

I think drug screens are good. But I think they can also have a downside. It a nurse is on anxiety meds or narcs, it can be assumed they will divert drugs or they are an addict when this isn't the case. I think the drug screens should be kept separate from the hiring company. Meaning the person goes to take the drug screen and show any valid RX's so if that shows in the urine they still pass since they have a legal prescription for it and the hiring company is only told whether they pass or not. I think this would satisfy the privacy of the employee yet the need for a drug screen from the employer.

[~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN]

Wow, I could see it if you were impaired and disciplined during employment, but without a history.. never.. as far as I know, would they ever do this pre employment here.. Only if you had some previous restrictions on your nursing registration.

What an expense.. really.. if someone is using, I think they would be very creative pre employment anyway..

Sounds like a waste of time & money to me.

I think it would be more expensive to have go through the hiring and training process of a new employee to then find out they are an illegal drug user or worse have something happen on the job. It's pretty difficult to be sneaky on the drug screening. At least the ones I have had. The water is shut off. You can't take anything into the restroom, their is dye in the toilet to see if anything was added. The temp of the urine is checked and you can't wash your hands until after you hand them the urine when the water is turned back on. I am sure their are still tricks but I am sure they aren't commonly successful. I have had to do them for fast food job and even a call center job. If someone isn't on illegal substances they don't need to worry and it doesn't cost them. The employer pays for it. In Nursing school we had to pay for it. Shoot I am also one that thinks people on welfare should have to pass on monthly as well but that is a whole other topic. People should be happy it's not a hair strand test. Bet the rates of failing would go way up.

ETA: As far as false positives, it was my understanding if you fail one you can appeal to have another one taken.

I know in school we could or if you were ever suspected of being under the influence you could at your own expense have a BAL done to prove your innocence within 45 mins of the first test if it was alcohol.

[BabyLady, BSN, RN]

This is a complete shock to this Canadian Nurse... Do you really have to go through drug testing pre employment.. unbelievable.. I think this is a complete infringement on your human rights!!!

So you think it's a privacy violation for someone to work as a nurse that is on multiple illegal drugs? Unbelievable!!!!

[IdrilRN, BSN, RN]

I think drug screens are good. But I think they can also have a downside. It a nurse is on anxiety meds or narcs, it can be assumed they will divert drugs or they are an addict when this isn't the case. I think the drug screens should be kept separate from the hiring company. Meaning the person goes to take the drug screen and show any valid RX's so if that shows in the urine they still pass since they have a legal prescription for it and the hiring company is only told whether they pass or not. I think this would satisfy the privacy of the employee yet the need for a drug screen from the employer.

Ok that is what I was trying to say, at work right now and kind of tired at this hour.

[~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN]

Ok that is what I was trying to say, at work right now and kind of tired at this hour.

No worries, re-reading mine I don't think mine makes much sense either. LOL Time for bed for me!

[raincitynurse]

Drug tests don't stop people from doing drugs or diverting.Drug tests don't screen for alcohol, our roadways biggest killer. Drug tests don't show you habitual use of many common drugs which leave the system quickly. Drug tests don't protect patients from sleep deprived staff, or incompetent nurses. Drug tests don't screen for abusive personality or psychiatric imbalances.

Drug tests give hospitals lower insurance rates, and insurance is big business.It's all about money.

[XB9S, BSN, MSN, EdD, RN, APN]

So you think it's a privacy violation for someone to work as a nurse that is on multiple illegal drugs? Unbelievable!!!!

I think it's worth remembering that this is completely out of the ordinary for that member, as it is with UK nursing. I often read this type of thread in absolute astonishment at what US nurses have to do to get a job, it makes me wonder if it's a big problem in the US with nurses with drug problems or diverting, and I am sure it isn't.

I know that there are some problems in the UK but certainly not to the scale that (in my opinion) routine drug testing would be needed.

[caroladybelle, BSN, RN]

Drug tests don't stop people from doing drugs or diverting.Drug tests don't screen for alcohol, our roadways biggest killer.

Drug tests give hospitals lower insurance rates, and insurance is big business.It's all about money.

It also has to do with that big sign "We support drug-free workplace". And to a certain extent, regulation.

As a note, some of us have to take screens for alcohol use and, in some cases, nicotine, as there are an increasing number of places that will not permit employees to use tobacco products, or who have employee health insurance that charges different rates for smokers.

My travel nursing agency only required drug screens if you were taking an assignment with a facility that required them. Then after undergoing the recent JCAHO accreditation process, they started drug AND alcohol screening once per year, usually incorporated with with one of your assignment screens. We did get a bit of a warning regarding which screen had the alcohol screen incorporated in it.

I believe in 18+ years, 7 of which as a traveler, I only held 2 nursing jobs that did not require a UDS.

In addition, for several assignments (one at a federally funded research facility, hint), they required federal clearance, all addresses for the past 20 years, credit/background check, and to have fingerprints digitally taken and cleared by the FBI.

The many of US workplaces also require credit checks, something that I consider less applicable to being a good safe HCW. And some places require agency to pass PBDS testing, testing that was not designed for screening for employment and that requires Nurses to make medical diagnoses, despite the fact that doing so is not part of our scope of practice.

[BabyLady, BSN, RN]

i think it's worth remembering that this is completely out of the ordinary for that member, as it is with uk nursing. i often read this type of thread in absolute astonishment at what us nurses have to do to get a job, it makes me wonder if it's a big problem in the us with nurses with drug problems or diverting, and i am sure it isn't.

i know that there are some problems in the uk but certainly not to the scale that (in my opinion) routine drug testing would be needed.

i am sad to report....that you were actually correct.

physicians and nurses are #1 in professions that abuse drugs. followed by attorney's.

it is the #1 reason nurses in my state lose their professional licenses.

sad, isn't it?

but it is the truth..this is why virtually all hospitals drug test. if you fail a drug test and you are a licensed healthcare professional, it gets reported to the state board of nursing.

[BabyLady, BSN, RN]

Drug tests don't stop people from doing drugs or diverting.Drug tests don't screen for alcohol, our roadways biggest killer. Drug tests don't show you habitual use of many common drugs which leave the system quickly. Drug tests don't protect patients from sleep deprived staff, or incompetent nurses. Drug tests don't screen for abusive personality or psychiatric imbalances.

Drug tests give hospitals lower insurance rates, and insurance is big business.It's all about money.

In my facility, they do screen for alcohol..if you are working, company policy is that your blood alcohol has to be ZERO because you cannot consume any alcoholic beverage within 12 hours of reporting to work. If you show up with alcohol in your system, it is automatic termination.

Drug tests were designed to test for illegal drugs or abuse of prescribed drugs. They were not designed to screen for sleep deprived staff, incompetent nurses (though an impaired one would qualify) or abusive personalities or psychiatric imbalances.

Considering illegal drug use is the #1 reason that nurses in my state lose their licenses? Yup, drug tests are well supported in my book.

[~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN]

It also has to do with that big sign "We support drug-free workplace". And to a certain extent, regulation.

As a note, some of us have to take screens for alcohol use and, in some cases, nicotine, as there are an increasing number of places that will not permit employees to use tobacco products, or who have employee health insurance that charges different rates for smokers.

My travel nursing agency only required drug screens if you were taking an assignment with a facility that required them. Then after undergoing the recent JCAHO accreditation process, they started drug AND alcohol screening once per year, usually incorporated with with one of your assignment screens. We did get a bit of a warning regarding which screen had the alcohol screen incorporated in it.

I believe in 18+ years, 7 of which as a traveler, I only held 2 nursing jobs that did not require a UDS.

In addition, for several assignments (one at a federally funded research facility, hint), they required federal clearance, all addresses for the past 20 years, credit/background check, and to have fingerprints digitally taken and cleared by the FBI.

The many of US workplaces also require credit checks, something that I consider less applicable to being a good safe HCW. And some places require agency to pass PBDS testing, testing that was not designed for screening for employment and that requires Nurses to make medical diagnoses, despite the fact that doing so is not part of our scope of practice.

I'm curious how the alcohol screen works. Would it be done every shift or just once. It doesn't stay in your system long like pot or cocaine so wonder how effective it would be, unless they suspected someone was drunk on shift and tested.

Drug tests aren't limited to nursing, a lot of companies require them.

I agree about the credit checks. I find that far more concerning those lines are starting to be crossed. The drug screens I get.

[caroladybelle, BSN, RN]

It was not an issue as I rarely drink.

I know that some of my fellow travelers made a big deal of "timing" it at time when they would be unlikely to have had alcohol. I never bothered to acquire that data, from my recruiter.

At least one of those that made the big deal over "timing" it, no longer is licensed as a nurse. I thought that she merely had "personality" issues, but later came to the knowledge that she had a serious alcohol addiction. She refused to believe that she had a problem and would not permit treatment.