Help! Pre-employment nicotine test!

Nurses General Nursing

Published

So,I have a question regarding pre-employment URINE nicotene test/cotinine test. I have been free and clear of cigarettes for 3 days and have to test in 5 days. I have been drinking approx a gallon of water daily and totally stayed free and clear of any type of second hand smoke. I bought an online urine cotinine test where I tested negative. However, the level I test could only tell me that my urine concentration was below 200 ng/ml.

After doing some research online, I feel like the standard for a negative test result is less than that off 200 ng/ml. Does anyone know the standard they test in urine. Also, do you think if my levels are already below 200, that I'd be able to pass the test in 5 days? Please no cruel posts or judgements...I just want facts!

I had to sign a statement at work indicating one of two things...either that I was not a smokeror that I was a smoker. smokers are now charged $50.00 more per month for health insurance premiums. If you are found to be smoker and you lied on your statement, you willmbe required to pay the extra premium amounts to date and are subject to a state fine. I have lost many friends and family to cancer, caused by smoking, and I think the policy is fine and have no problem at all with it. it is a drug and it's use causes folks to have many more associated health problems, causing higher premiums for those who don't smoke. Unfair? Not at all. With all of the direct correlation of smoking and cancer and other major health problems, I do not see any reason why anyone would continue to smoke. That said, I do realize that smoking is an addiction, and is hard to quit and those who are quitting need much support from family and friends.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×

I don't smoke, never have and have lost both my parents - smokers - to lung cancer. That being said, I do NOT agree with facilities basing hiring on nicotine results. If it really is based on insurance then they can simply exclude smokers from being able to get on their policy...I really believe this opens Pandora's box..high cholesterol? Overweight? No job for you..what about the employee who is so clean they squeak at work but spend their nights and weekends binge drinking? That isn't going to effect the insurance when their liver or brain ends up pickled?

I agree with smoking regulations are work or even a smoke free facility..but testing for it makes it seem criminal in a sense and it is not. Those who have posted here about not giving a job to a person because they are overweight (and for the record I'm not but do have an obese sister) - again, depending on the job, there is no reason someone who has weight struggles should be denied employment. LOTS of the nurse who called out or were gone a lot (one on and off for 7 weeks even leaving at the beginning or mid shift several times) at the last hospital I worked was because of child care issues or child illnesses..not being overweight or smoking...so, should a facility start asking if we have kids? If so, what ages and then denying employment because of that? People with children who are ill tap into the insurance as much, if not more so, than someone who is overweight or smokes - in fact, my mother, who smoked from age 12 to 74 when she died, and my father who smoked from age 14 to 67 went to the doctor only for check ups a few times over their lifetime and were rarely, if ever, sick even with a cold. Using insurance is what drives costs up and yes, I understand some things make a person more likely to use the benefits - diabetes, etc. but isn't that what WE are paying the premiums for? Sorry, but I think this particular test is just...wrong.:down:

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Peds, School Nurse, clinical instructor.

Good luck in your quest to quit smoking, it is a long, hard road...been there done that. :) Also, I hope you get the job but if you don't...you will find another job you will equally enjoy.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in PICU, ICU, Hospice, Mgmt, DON.
Sehille4774 said:
Careful with the water chugging the day of the test. Some of those urine tests will automatically fail you if your urine is too dilute!

If it is anything like the standard urine drug screens, which I imagine it is, they test the creatinine level...if it's abnormal it will flag it for further review.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×

Just like "healthy fat people", I have been a smoker for 33 yrs. I have had one of the LOWEST absentee rates wherever I have worked! I rarely get sick. I can't even remember the last time I had the flu. Colds are rare as well.

I have no problem with charging smokers AND obese higher premiums, but I draw the line at refusing to hire. I am SO SICK of government intrusion (or business for that matter) into legal choices in a private life! I had no problem with not smoking during my 12 hr clinical shifts, but I believe that neither government nor business has a right to dictate what we do in our private lives.

2
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU, PICU, PACU.

Where my husband works, a very large well know institution (world renowned lol) if your BMI is a certain number they require you to enroll in a weight program, if you have hypertension they require you to enroll in another group and so on...or else your insurance premiums go sky high. And there are packets that are sent out an a regular basis and a counselor that speaks to you every month or so on the phone (these are RNs that work within these clinics/groups). If your documentation doesn't show improvement or if you have not met your goal within the time frame they set, or any on going success your insurance premiums go up. They have a clinic/group for just about anything you can imagine. The good thing...we get our weight watchers paid for and our gym paid for if we go to one that they have on their list.

It all comes down to the bottom line of money.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in PICU, ICU, Hospice, Mgmt, DON.

I agree whole heartedly...I do not smoke...and I am glad that restaurants have declared the no smoking rule...However, I feel it is anyone's right to smoke, as long as it's still legal...I don't know where they can draw the line..as one previous poster said..oh, you have kids...no job for you...athlete's feet? bunions? can't stand on your feet??? come on! Nurses have been smoking for years leave them alone.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in medical surgical.

All the hospitals in my area are going with non smoking employees. If you are a smoker they give you x amount of time to quit but after that you will be subject to random mouth swabs. I am in a NP program doing clinicals and we have had large amounts of individuals coming through to get scripts for chantix.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in medical surgical.
hoopschick said:
We just got info a couple days ago from our CEO explaining the next years upcoming benefit changes. Stated in a politically correct way of course, but smokers will now be heavily subsidizing the non smoking. Many of whom are morbidly obese, have untreated HTN and poorly compliant diabetics, as well as alcoholics, chronically depressed, and those with poor genetic material.

My previous 675 dollars a year in premiums has now essentially doubled to 1300. For a single, no family employee in a basic 80/20 PPO.

Holy crap!!!! It will eventually be more financially beneficial to not work and be on medicaid (just kidding, I think).

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×

One of my main reasons for wanting to quit (besides the obvious health reasons, $$ etc) was the fact that only one facility w/ in a 50 mile radius from me will hire a smoker. The largest (has large hospital and many facilities in many different counties), supposedly will not hire unless you have been an ex smoker for a year! I'm a student, and don't want my chances shot b/c of smoking after all my hard work.

That being said, do I think it's right? Nope. I've always felt this was a violation.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
NicuGal said:
Where my husband works, a very large well know institution (world renowned lol) if your BMI is a certain number they require you to enroll in a weight program, if you have hypertension they require you to enroll in another group and so on...or else your insurance premiums go sky high. And there are packets that are sent out an a regular basis and a counselor that speaks to you every month or so on the phone (these are RNs that work within these clinics/groups). If your documentation doesn't show improvement or if you have not met your goal within the time frame they set, or any on going success your insurance premiums go up. They have a clinic/group for just about anything you can imagine. The good thing...we get our weight watchers paid for and our gym paid for if we go to one that they have on their list.

It all comes down to the bottom line of money.

If these programs help individuals lose weight, quit smoking, control HTN, etc, then they are good for those people I guess, but I have to wonder how much money the company is actually saving if they are paying for all of these programs vs just paying the extra premiums.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

Slippery slope to a policed state......:uhoh21:

So fine don't give the obese smoker a job.:cool: Let them sit at home smoking their cigarettes and collecting SSI, SSDI, or welfare and let medicare/medicade foot the bill.......:yawn:

while the rest of the working slim non smokers pay for it....:eek:

Now that's the way to decrease the debt and "entititlement" programs and improve the economy!:nuke:

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment