Workplace Drug Test

Nurses General Nursing

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Hello! New young nurse here! I passed my boards and recieved my license recently. I am not a druggie! I'm about to start applying for jobs and I'm super excited about the future. However, the thought of having to cut off chunks of my hair for drug tests is giving me anxiety attacks. I went through chemo the first year of nursing school and decided to shave my head during. After my treatment was over, I made sure my hair grew strong and consistently. I have a short cute pixie cut now.

Question is, what kind of drug test did you take for your RN/LPN position? Should I even be worrying about my hair? Do they really cut off chunks?? I've heard hair testing is more expensive, so few facilities do it. Please let me know and thank you for your response(s)!

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Specializes in Critical Care, Capacity/Bed Management.

Very few facilities utilize hair for drug testing, I have always had to submit a urine sample.

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I had a hair drug test once years ago. They took a tiny section and they lifted most of my hair up and took it from the upper nape of my neck where it would not be visible no matter how I wore my hair. They don't need "chunks"- no worries even if a job requires this!

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Specializes in Case manager, float pool, and more.

They don't take chunks of hair for the test. Most just want a urine drug screen. My facility does random drug testing throughout the year in addition to our initial employment screening. One ex-coworker had to submit to the hair test as the narc count was off. Obviously based on that the person is an ex-coworker but their last UDS had come back negative. I can understand that reasoning for the hair drug testing but it is an expensive test so not sure many places require it for pre-employment.

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Specializes in MDS/ UR.

I am amazed to think one would be expected to give their hair for a drug test for a job or to keep it.

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Specializes in public health, women's health, reproductive health.

I've only been a nurse for 3 years but I've never had to submit hair for a drug test. It's always been urine. I can say the same thing for jobs I had before becoming a nurse. At any rate, like someone else has said, I know they do not take chunks. You don't have to worry about that. I'm glad you got through chemo and have recovered. I wish you the best of health as you embark on your nursing career. Congrats!

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I am amazed to think one would be expected to give their hair for a drug test for a job or to keep it.

My D had to give up a hair sample when she was hired to work as an intern at an energy firm during the summer( while she was an undergrad). All of the companies hiring for undergrad internships, as well as permanent jobs after graduation, required this. One of her friends was hired for a job with starting salary of $125K. He failed the hair follicle test and his job offer was rescinded.

My D has already been offered a clerkship at a law firm for next summer. If they require a hair test, she will gladly take it. Since the job pays $3k per week and offers her the chance to make an impression that will lead to permanent employment, there is no way she would rock the boat over being asked to give up a small hair sample.

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Specializes in MDS/ UR.
My D had to give up a hair sample when she was hired to work as an intern at an energy firm during the summer( while she was an undergrad). All of the companies hiring for undergrad internships, as well as permanent jobs after graduation, required this. One of her friends was hired for a job with starting salary of $125K. He failed the hair follicle test and his job offer was rescinded.

My D has already been offered a clerkship at a law firm for next summer. If they require a hair test, she will gladly take it. Since the job pays $3k per week and offers her the chance to make an impression that will lead to permanent employment, there is no way she would rock the boat over being asked to give up a small hair sample.

If you, your daughter or any person seeking an opportunity for whatever is okay with giving up a sample of their hair for a drug test I really don't care.

Heck, if the end result was something I was so motivated for, I would likely do so too.

At the end of the day, I feel that an entity requiring me to willingly give them a piece of my hair (the sample size is not the issue) repugnant. It is granting them rights and permissions that I am not comfortable with.

Will they be asking for next?

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I am not a druggie but I have a prescription for a benzo that I occasionally take. You can look it up online, they have shampoos that use heat to draw out any residue from your hair follicles and people swear by them. What goes on with my doctor and I is frankly none of their frickin business. Also, if you think you are going to be subjected to the violation of your Constitutional rights, wear your hair as short as possible. Shave your armpits ad pubic hair because if the hair on your head is too short for the snoops to get a good sample, they might try to get their sample from those areas.

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Specializes in Case manager, float pool, and more.
They don't take chunks of hair for the test. Most just want a urine drug screen. My facility does random drug testing throughout the year in addition to our initial employment screening. One ex-coworker had to submit to the hair test as the narc count was off. Obviously based on that the person is an ex-coworker but their last UDS had come back negative. I can understand that reasoning for the hair drug testing but it is an expensive test so not sure why some places require it for pre-employment.

I meant to say I wasn't sure why some places are now requiring this? I just assume it is part of the pre-employment process for that facility. But I don't think you'd have to worry about them needed too much hair.

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At the end of the day, I feel that an entity requiring me to willingly give them a piece of my hair (the sample size is not the issue) repugnant. It is granting them rights and permissions that I am not comfortable with.

I used to work in the oil refinery business and everyone, from the receptionist in the corporate office to the oil field ditch-digger, was drug tested annually and plus we were all subjected to random tests. Why? Because a simple error could result in significant, widespread death and disaster. Plenty of Federal construction contracts have similar requirements. Object to drug testing? Go to another industry.

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Specializes in Urgent Care, Oncology.

Fellow cancer survivor here, 9 years in remission from Hodgkin's. Congratulations on being a survivor. I understand wanting to hold on that precious hair. Prior to working in Oncology, I worked in Employer/Occupational Health. IF, and that is a big IF, you have to do a hair follicle test, they take about a one inch sample size from bits and pieces all over the head; they shouldn't take it from one giant area and leave a big, gaping blank space. They're also not going to take pubic hair or armpit hair - arm hair or leg hair would be more plausible, but more so for a gentleman. Also, hair tests are pretty rare. For every 200-300 urine drug screens that I had, I would maybe do 1 hair test. Usually they were for federal facilities or federal hires, or for persons in jobs in highly sensitive positions.

As a nurse, I have only ever had to complete urine drug screens. I wouldn't be too worried about it.

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