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!

Specializes in M/S, Pulmonary, Travel, Homecare, Psych..
Trekfan said:
This just does not seem right ?As much as I hate it Nicotine is legal so why have it on a drug test?

Smoking pot is legal too. Even in states where it is legalized, they will test you and not hire you if there is a positive.

Heck, look at some of the threads by people on prescription pain meds and what not. There are numerous ones about how it seemed they were not hired for it despite proving it is prescribed.

Something being legal is not a shield against being shunned for the behavior.

1 Votes

I agree. If it's all about insurance cost, hospitals should start demanding normal BMI's....obesity costs a lot more than smoking.....I'm not advocating for people to smoke, but I think there is something wrong with singling out certain populations unfairly. Heart disease is our number one killer--if costs are the bottom line, why not do lipids, triglycerides, cholesterol, a diet evaluation, and demand an exercise log before hire? How about waist circumference? Women: 35 inches or more = no hire. It could go on and on....but for some reason it's okay to demand this "because it's smokers."

1 Votes
jenniferhopeRN said:
I agree. If it's all about insurance cost, hospitals should start demanding normal BMI's....obesity costs a lot more than smoking.....I'm not advocating for people to smoke, but I think there is something wrong with singling out certain populations unfairly. Heart disease is our number one killer--if costs are the bottom line, why not do lipids, triglycerides, cholesterol, a diet evaluation, and demand an exercise log before hire? How about waist circumference? Women: 35 inches or more = no hire. It could go on and on....but for some reason it's okay to demand this "because it's smokers."

If you think that "obesity costs a lot more than smoking" then you don't understand how smoking affects the entire body.

Edited to add: It's NOT all about insurance costs in my opinion. I don't care what people do in their off time, but reeking of cigarette smoke in the workplace is not cool for patients or co-workers, not to mention the extra breaks that many smokers take to have a cigarette, leaving the non-smokers to cover their patients. Most nights I don't have time for a pee break let alone one for lunch, but many smokers manage several throughout the shift for that almighty cigarette.

1 Votes

I have a pretty good stranglehold of what smoking does. I still say obesity is more costly. Recent research tends to support this. Either way, I still don't think it's right to pick out smokers. I wouldn't think it was right if hospitals targeted overweight people either.

1 Votes

I recently applied for an OR job in Alaska and was told they tested for nicotine. They told me that you needed to be clear for approximately 20 days. No problem as I had already quit a few months prior. Just an FYI, drinking copious amounts of water tends to just yield you a "too dilute" test result and they will automatically flunk you as they think you have something to hide. A friend of mine went to a concert years ago and even though he hadn't smoked anything he was still worried about getting some in his system through just being in close proximity of those who were so he drank gallons of water days leading up to his pre-employment screen. His came back as "too dilute" and he didn't get the job.

1 Votes

In my opinion this is a joke! You are correct nicotine is legal they have no right to judge you if you are smoker because of the position of a job. I actually am in pain management and am told that if I do not quit smoking I be released! In truth that's a joke because they say smoking causes more pain. It is virtually impossible to quit smoking when you've tried every way some people have of an addictive personality and if they choose to smoke that is that right. As you said what's next the cholesterol test oh you have high cholesterol so you're a risk you can't work here. They need to make cigarettes illegal and quit selling them then people will quit but the government makes too much tax money and we are all being judged for smoking cigarettes. They say that a second hand smoke cannot come up in a urine test so how does secondhand smoke affect people if it doesn't come up in their urine? It all contradicts itself second hand smoke supposedly can not come up in your urine so again somebody tell me how it could affect your health?!!!! This is all portering on ridiculousness!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

1 Votes

This nicotine testing is nothing but a crock of you-know-what! It is legal you can buy them in every store but yet they judge you and won't hire you for a job release you from Pain Management they need to make smoking illegal but the government makes too much money in taxes so they continue to sell them. I asked my doctor if secondhand smoke can show up in a urine test he said 'NO"!!!!! If this is true then how can second hand smoke affect non-smokers? If it's not in your urine it's not in my blood it's not in the lungs it's not anywhere so somebody please explain to me how secondhand smoke affect anybody. I quit smoking and go to bingo I tested positive for nicotine how if it doesn't come in second hand. Makes no sense!!!!!!!!

1 Votes

i have seen many forums and faq based sites asking this question on how long does nicotine stay in system..... and i have researched the all the sites and found a best reference for this - how long does nicotine stay in your system

1 Votes

I have no idea what there negative or positive is. But I didn't smoke for 13 days drank approximately 3L of water a day for 2 days and I passed my nicotine test.

1 Votes
CareteamRN70 said:
As for obesity, I am a very large guy. You've heard of functional alcoholics..well Im functionally fat. I don't even know what the chairs feel like in my facility because my @ss never gets to sit in them. Im on the floor humping along my entire shift, plus being regarded as my units spare hoyer lift. I even chart standing up.

The day I get judged by my waistline vs my work output and attendance record for illness (normally 1 day in a 12 month period for flu, cold, or a planned MH day which I havent taken yet) is the day I hang up my exl scrubs, say my good byes to my favorite residents, and take up the mantle of grandpa extraordinaire.

I couldn't agree more! :yes:

1 Votes
+ Add a Comment