Urine test

Nurses General Nursing

Published

I am going for my physical this week to be an employee at a hospital. They are giving us a urine test and I was just wondering would smoking cigarettes cost me my chance for the job? I know its not marijuana or nearly as bad, but i was just wondering would they cut me once they find nicotine in my system? Just curious =/ because this is my dream job

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Possibly, if it is your employer's policy. Where I work, smokers pay more for insurance and they no longer hire smokers.

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Specializes in PICU.

Nicotine isn't a controlled substance, nor do they test for it in a drug screening.

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Nicotine isn't a controlled substance, nor do they test for it in a drug screening.

But I am looking it up online and they test for cotinine? Im not sure and I am really nervous. I knew I was clean on the marijuana part but now I didnt even think about smoking cigarettes as making your drug test negative :(

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Nicotine isn't a controlled substance, nor do they test for it in a drug screening.

They did test mine with my drug screen through urine! Then the once per year testing is done with the swab in cheek.

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But I am looking it up online and they test for cotinine? Im not sure and I am really nervous. I knew I was clean on the marijuana part but now I didnt even think about smoking cigarettes as making your drug test negative :(

It will not make your drug screen positive--nicotine is not a controlled substance. It will show up, however, if they are testing for nicotine.

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It will not make your drug screen positive--nicotine is not a controlled substance. It will show up, however, if they are testing for nicotine.

So do I have anything to worry about? My physical is in 2 days and i cant just stop smoking now because it will still be in my system

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So do I have anything to worry about? My physical is in 2 days and i cant just stop smoking now because it will still be in my system

I'm not sure about worrying. You'll be fine on the drug screen, nicotine will show up if they test for it, but I don't know your employer's policy. Like I said, mine charges more for insurance for smokers, and have recently announced they are not hiring smokers anymore. BUT, that doesn't mean your employer does the same :)

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Specializes in PICU.

As long as you haven't smoked a controlled/illegal substance you have nothing to worry about.

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Specializes in ER, ICU.

Just quit, that stuff will kill you.

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I'm not sure about worrying. You'll be fine on the drug screen, nicotine will show up if they test for it, but I don't know your employer's policy. Like I said, mine charges more for insurance for smokers, and have recently announced they are not hiring smokers anymore. BUT, that doesn't mean your employer does the same :)

Well it is one of the best hospitals in the state. And there is no smoking on the premises. So when my nicotine shows up in the test, they will kick me out? because I didnt even start yet and I feel really ashamed. I am also 19 and my parents do not know I smoke so if their insurance goes up, wouldnt they realize that I smoke? or is that kept confidential?

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Sorry to tell you but cotinine is a urine test to determine tobacco use. It is a metabolite of nicotine.

Many hospitals in my area are not hiring smokers (the test for smokers is a urine cotinine test) and charging higher insurance premiums for smokers (as evidenced by a positive cotinine test). However many facilities offer tobacco cessation programs for their current employees.

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