What kind of pre-employment drug screen do most employers do?

Nurses Career Support

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I want to apply for jobs but I'm worried about getting a hair test for the pre-employment drug test. I made a stupid decision at a party so I'm just worried about failing a hair test (yes I know it was dumb and I would never do it again ever). What if I just walk out of the place if they want to test my hair? Is that a refusal and automatic fail and would they report that to the board? The nursing community in my town is kinda small so I would be worried about getting blacklisted/getting a bad reputation if I did something like that and never getting hired in this town

I'm not worried about a UDS at all and know I can pass that, is that what most employers do these days? just test urine?

Specializes in nursing education.

If you have a prescription medication and DON'T test positive for it, our clinic would discharge you for violation of drug contract.

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I didn't know they tested hair for drugs? Wow, I really do live under a rock.

If you took one pill and you had a prescription for it (even if its a year old) it would still be legally prescribed to you, right? Show them the bottle with your name on it, problem solved.

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Specializes in Med/surg, Quality & Risk.
If you have a prescription medication and DON'T test positive for it, our clinic would discharge you for violation of drug contract.

Whaaaaaa???? As an employee? Or are you referring to discharging patients for not taking the narcotics they're being prescribed, since either a) they don't need them or b) they're selling them? Little bit of a different issue there, don't you think? I don't think my employer cares if I have a script for Xanax that I haven't taken in 7 days because I didn't need it....

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Specializes in Adult/Ped Emergency and Trauma.

NIDA Five Screen, . . .

1. Marijuana(weed, grass, tree, bush, mary jane:rotfl:

2. Barbituates (barbitals,. . like Phenobarbital)

3. Opiates (Morphine Derivatives, NOT SYNTHETICs)

4. Alcohol (ETOH)

5. Benzodiazipines (Xanax, Valium, Restoril, Klonopin)

Heard an RN say that the first group was also known as "Nurses Aid" but I'm not touching that one!:saint:

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Specializes in PACU.

It's like in the movie Training Day. They need to make sure you can handle the drugs and still fight as needed.

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Specializes in nursing education.
Whaaaaaa???? As an employee? Or are you referring to discharging patients for not taking the narcotics they're being prescribed, since either a) they don't need them or b) they're selling them? Little bit of a different issue there, don't you think? I don't think my employer cares if I have a script for Xanax that I haven't taken in 7 days because I didn't need it....

I was extrapolating. Simple concept- taking drugs that are prescribed for you, is what you are supposed to be doing, so regardless of why you are getting a drug test- and we're all patients somewhere- you should test positive for drugs that are prescribed for you, negative for drugs and substances that are not (but yeah, we have had patients that were selling stuff...crazy world.)

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Doubt they would do a hair test because it is very expensive. I would apply for the job. I think you are worrying about nothing.

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

The only company that required a hair test was a pharmaceutical research & manufacturing company because one division on site maufactured class 2 & research only level narcotics. This was in addition to a higher level background check so that the facility could prove due diligence to maintain their high level FDA & international licenses.

Most employers stick with urine drug screens...cheaper and quicker results. Some do oral (saliva) swabs.

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Was it 90 days or two weeks?

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First of all, Klonopin is a legal drug available via prescription. Drug screens are looking for illegal drug use and also drug abuse. One Klonopin does not fall into the drug "abuse" category. The hair test entry on Wikipedia states detection up to 90 days. I have only ever heard of hair testing in the casino industry.

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Specializes in ICU.
Was it 90 days or two weeks?
I think it was >90 days for whatever it was that she did at the party. Then, 2 weeks ago she took a klonopin from an old rx.
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Regardless the narc type: legal or illegal substances will last 90 days or greater in your hair. For urine and blood time frame is a bit different.

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