Pre employment urine drug screen for nursing home, will they test for alcohol?

Specialties Geriatric

Published

This is my first RN job offer so I had no idea I would be drug tested when I went in that day to sign paperwork (I would not have drank at all had I have known this). I thought they would give me a 3 day heads up and send me to a lab corp. So my employment at this nursing home is contingent upon me passing a drug and background check.

The night before I drank about 10 or 11 beers, I probably went to sleep around 1am and the drug test was around 11am the next day.

Is this going to show up in the urine drug test? I'm a small person (5'8, 130 llbs) so I don't know if it had metabolized out of my system yet. I did feel a little buzzed that morning.

I'm freaking out, will they report me to the BON if alcohol shows up? :(

I wish they would've told me that I'd be taking a drug test when I went in to sign paperwork :(

Hardly ever

Good!! Be careful. Fun is all well and good until someone forgets to be safe. :o

0 Votes
Good!! Be careful. Fun is all well and good until someone forgets to be safe. :o

:) oh yea I know, I've never had a DUI or anything like that.

Do you think they'll take back their job offer? :( or report me?

0 Votes
I wonder what you would say about me if I told you about my weekends.

Probably to stay away from me as a nurse if I'm a patient.

I've smelled booze on HCPs.... no excuses if it's still apparent at work. :)

Fun is great- and when you're 26, you think you're never going to have anything bad happen.

Nobody in a permanent vegetative state planned for their life to end in their 20s, but still be breathing, either ....

Just be careful :)

0 Votes
:) oh yea I know, I've never had a DUI or anything like that.

Do you think they'll take back their job offer? :( or report me?

If the test didn't test for ETOH, there shouldn't be a problem. It's hard to say how long it takes to totally be out of your system; the standard 1 drink/hour is for men; women metabolize ETOH differently and I'm about 15 years out of working alcohol/drug rehab- so don't remember.

My recollection of work drug screens is that they don't generally report to the board, unless it's a repetitive event.

0 Votes
If the test didn't test for ETOH, there shouldn't be a problem. It's hard to say how long it takes to totally be out of your system; the standard 1 drink/hour is for men; women metabolize ETOH differently and I'm about 15 years out of working alcohol/drug rehab- so don't remember.

I have no idea if they test for ETOH or not. I tried to google the company to see if I could find out but I couldn't find anything. Do you know if LTC normally tests for ETOH in a pre employment drug screen?

They said they would call me for orientation when my drug screen and background check comes back, that it can take up to 2 weeks

0 Votes
I have no idea if they test for ETOH or not. I tried to google the company to see if I could find out but I couldn't find anything. Do you know if LTC normally tests for ETOH in a pre employment drug screen?

They said they would call me for orientation when my drug screen and background check comes back, that it can take up to 2 weeks

I remember some urine drug screens definitely testing for alcohol- but I don't remember what the cut-off limits were (how much cold be in someone's system before it "triggered" a positive).

If you had good references, no issues with the background check, and I was interested in hiring you, and alcohol was the ONLY thing on the UDS, I'd still talk to you again, and ask about it. I'd probably watch you pretty closely until I got to know you- but it wouldn't be an automatic write off (for me, anyway- I don't drink at all, but have no issue with SOCIAL drinking.....not marathon events- lol). People drink alcohol. I would hope they'd clarify with you if it's positive. :)

0 Votes
Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.
Probably to stay away from me as a nurse if I'm a patient.

I've smelled booze on HCPs.... no excuses if it's still apparent at work. :)

Fun is great- and when you're 26, you think you're never going to have anything bad happen.

Nobody in a permanent vegetative state planned for their life to end in their 20s, but still be breathing, either ....

Just be careful :)

Oh there is no drinking before work or the night before EVER. It is simply not acceptable by any standards.

And I am as careful as I can. I can only do so much to make myself safe, just like in any other moment in life. I dont put myself in situations anymore that I once used to.

0 Votes
Specializes in L&D, OR, postpartum, pedi, OBGYN clinic.
I wonder what you would say about me if I told you about my weekends.

Hahaha right!? I guess our party habits get judged here :) Don't show up to work like that though! And if anybody here can tell me that they haven't had a fun/crazy party night they are lying or boring!

Seriously though, don't party before work, save it for the weekends and everybody needs to relax about the poor guy getting drunk! He just graduated nursing school and passed his boards, lighten up people!

:)

0 Votes
Oh there is no drinking before work or the night before EVER. It is simply not acceptable by any standards.

And I am as careful as I can. I can only do so much to make myself safe, just like in any other moment in life. I dont put myself in situations anymore that I once used to.

:up:

It would really bite rocks to hear of anyone here (if people know each other IRL) dying- or worse- from something preventable- sounds like you know your limits :).

0 Votes

I don't know if I should be worried or not :(

I would have never drank 1 drop had I known I would've been tested the next day and I would never drink before a shift. It took me 2 months to find this job.

0 Votes
I don't know if I should be worried or not :(

I would have never drank 1 drop had I known I would've been tested the next day and I would never drink before a shift. It took me 2 months to find this job.

Worrying isn't going to change what's done :)

Just hang in there, and see what happens. The worst that could happen is you ask to take another urine test at any time they choose. Let them know you know it wasn't the right thing to do (now a couple of drinks or glasses of wine with dinner- no problem- but still wait until you get a job- THEN celebrate :)).

0 Votes
Worrying isn't going to change what's done :)

Just hang in there, and see what happens. The worst that could happen is you ask to take another urine test at any time they choose. Let them know you know it wasn't the right thing to do (now a couple of drinks or glasses of wine with dinner- no problem- but still wait until you get a job- THEN celebrate :)).

thanks :)

so you don't think they'll take back the offer as long as everything else comes back ok? just watch me closely or retest me sometime?

0 Votes
+ Add a Comment