Random drug test

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Oct 26, 2015

I am just curious as to how many of you are randomly drug tested on a normal basis? I am fully aware of the pre-employment screening and that is no problem but i do smoke weed on occasion and i was just wondering if i would ever be able to do that again as a nurse. I understand most of you on here look at this the same as alcohol but that is just far from the case. If someone smokes after a shift to relax and is not coming to work high that has no effect on their performance on the job. So if you have been randomly drug tested how often? and was it truly random?

If there is an incident, narcotic count off, workplace injury (even accidental needle stick)there is quite often a random UDS whether student or employee. Since it's a class 1 narcotic by the DEA you risk losing a license, student status and sanctions by the BoN. It's reality not a scare tactic.

You state you are a recreational user, even if "legal" at the state level the courts have already set precedence that the BoN may sanction your license and employer can terminate for a drug screen positive for marijuana or metabolites.

You need to make a decision if your choice for recreational use is worth risking your job and license especially since it takes a long time to fully clear from your system. If positive when screened for a workplace injury you not only could lose your license and job but also be denied workers compensation rights to medical & wage coverage paid by your employer. Yes this has happened

ThymeRN · Oct 26, 2015

My hospital randomly send emails, "please stop by HR." We all know what it means, you are going to be handed a cup and pointed tho the bathroom. It hasn't happened to me yet, but several of the nurses I work with have received the email.

JVoEDrn · Oct 26, 2015

My Unit (ED) does them but after speaking to a few people it's seems that they are not as random as one might think. They usually "randomly" test you after a vacation.

One lady was tested 4x in one month. On the other hand I have spoken to people who have yet to be tested after years. I feel your pain to a certain degree. I was an avid weed smoker on my days off only. Never ever before work and only when I knew I would be off for 12+ hours. Still wish I could TBH.

But the risk of testing pos and being sanctioned is to much for me. So much so, that the last time I did it, I was a nervous wreck the entire time. Totally killed it for me. It takes sometime to get out of your system. The leaner you are the easier it is. I was clean in 2-3 weeks. Without doing anything fancy.

If you're clean and smoke once in a blue moon, as in a few puffs here and there, then you can clean up pretty quickly Bc the reserve isn't there. But TBH it's totally not worth it. To lose your license or be considered an addict for a little bit of bud.

ThymeRN · Oct 26, 2015

Our tests don't seem tho be all that random. Most everybody gets tested, but the people with multiple tattoos and piercings get tested more often.

I was expecting to be tested after spending a week in Washington state last fall. Somehow I didn't think "but it was legal where I used" would fly. I have no desire to let an impulsive decision lead to being unemployed.

Horseshoe, BSN, RN · Oct 26, 2015

I've never been tested randomly, though my facilities have always reserved the right to require random tox screens. It's in the employee handbook.

I hurt my back once, bending over drawing blood (yep, using poor body mechanics). I could barely walk back to the nurse's station. My boss saw immediately that I was in pain, but following required policy, sent me over to employee health. Once there, I was required to submit to a drug screen.

Lucky for me, I don't do drugs which could get me in any trouble. We work very hard to get our licenses. I can't imagine taking that kind of chance with my livelihood. YMMV.

If someone smokes after a shift to relax and is not coming to work high that has no effect on their performance on the job.

Perhaps true, but completely irrelevant.

allnurses Guide · Oct 26, 2015

If someone smokes after a shift to relax and is not coming to work high that has no effect on their performance on the job.

It has no effect on job performance? Are you sure about that? Have you read the research? What's the half-life in occasional users? How about chronic users?

It's a moot point anyways, as other posters have said, it's a class 1 substance and testing positive for it would at best cause you a significant headache with the board or at worst ruin your career.

ch710 · Oct 26, 2015

As a matter of fact i have done my research and know from experience that it would not effect your cognitive abilities and reasoning if you aren't using before. Half life is referring to the amount of time it is in your system not the time you feel effects. Im sure you already know THC is fat soluble and will be stored in your system for weeks if not months. You are telling me if someone smokes a joint after work they will feel the effects the next day? Their have been multiple studies proving that once full development of frontal cortex is complete marijuana has little to no negative effect on the brain long term. Unlike alcohol it also has many beneficial effects and has been proven to be the most effecient natural pain reliever. Biased out of date studies are irrelevant and the "it kills brain cells" theory has been disproven by the research of many current scientists and can actually be traced back to the fact that the monkeys in the original study were deprived of oxygen during the study.

ch710 · Oct 26, 2015

i simply am curious to hear who has been randomly drug tested in their career and do they know why

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Oct 26, 2015

i simply am curious to hear who has been randomly drug tested in their career and do they know why

Yes. Corporate policy due to accidental needle stick as required by occupational health. Most common reasons are suspicion of impairment (never happened to me) and work related injury/accident. Didn't matter how long since you last if it was a non prescribed or illegal narcotic. And even prescribed narcotics, especially pain killers, the scenario was subject to extra scrutiny and testing.

Positive for illegal narcotic may result in an employer having a legal obligation to report to the BoN

Nurse Leigh · Oct 26, 2015

i simply am curious to hear who has been randomly drug tested in their career and do they know why

Yes I was tested once at random, and as to the WHY? Uh, it was RANDOM.

NurseGirl525, ASN, RN · Oct 26, 2015

Oh my gosh, another one? THC stays in your system for 30 days, 30 days. There is no comparison to alcohol, that is gone in a few hours. The body metabolizes them different. If you want to smoke work for a company that does not drug test you, but I guarantee that's not in the nursing field. Stop all the arguments now, about how safe it is. It's illegal and you bemoaning how unfair it is that you can't smoke doesn't change the fact that by FEDERAL LAW it's illegal.

What is more important to you, a career, or weed? It's up to you. But debating it on here doesn't change a thing.