background check/dug screening

itsmyturn · Mar 22, 2009

If you have no worries, it really does not matter which one they use, right?

AirforceRN, RN · Mar 22, 2009

I think it's pretty obvious that she does have worries. An answer would have been more useful.

new_mom2005 · Mar 22, 2009

If you are clean then you should not worry about how they do the drug test

js408 · Mar 22, 2009

I assume they would do a blood and urine test

Can anyone please tell me what type of drug test is used by the occ nursing admission program, blood, urine, saliva, hair, etc...?

treeguy · Mar 22, 2009

why is it so hard to just give a straight answer because there is a lot of validity in her question. Taking a Urine sample to a hair sample are TOTALLY different and can mean you may fail even if you are clean. As is my knowledge, a hair sample can tell if you have ever taken drugs verses a urine which just shows if you are recently using drugs. So that would mean if you used to smoke a little pot back in the day but gave up for nursing school, you could still fail the drug test.

So could someone pleassssssse just answer the question because I would like to know.

LeesG · Mar 22, 2009

My school required a urine test for drugs AND ethanol. The school said it was the first year they required Ethanol testing . I found it strange that as an adult I couldnt have a glass of wine but I didn't take any chances and didn't have any alcohol at all for 2 weeks before the test. I don't do any drugs, so I wasn't worried about that part.

I don't think your question implies right away that your worried about the results...it could be the cost. My insurance wouldnt pay for the test and I had to pay out of pocket. had it been a hair or blood test that would have been very costly for me...I was realived it was urine, since it was less expensive.

If your asking because you are concerned about tests that detect use for longer periods ie: hair, all I can say is good luck

itsmyturn · Mar 22, 2009

why is it so hard to just give a straight answer because there is a lot of validity in her question. taking a urine sample to a hair sample are totally different and can mean you may fail even if you are clean. as is my knowledge, a hair sample can tell if you have ever taken drugs verses a urine which just shows if you are recently using drugs. so that would mean if you used to smoke a little pot back in the day but gave up for nursing school, you could still fail the drug test.
so could someone pleassssssse just answer the question because i would like to know.

the reason i answered the question the way i did was because although there are a lot of validity to this poster's question, she left it for us to determine her motive. i am clean so therefore i never asked this when i applied to school so it seemed odd that she would be concerned unless she was using or had used in the past. hence my answer towards the little info she gave us. if you have a drug in your system, it does not always mean that you will fail...they want to know how honest you can be beforehand.

i myself think it is ridiculous that anyone would come on here and ask this question...after all we are nurses, we are held to a higher standard and those who abuse make us look bad and sometimes even cost us our jobs because of their thievery. (note to original poster...i am not accusing you and i am sorry that i made implications of that and i am sorry for the smart a$# post :) )

as for schools letting you know what tests they decide to run, most will switch them around to make sure the students won't know what they will be required to take. and by the way, a hair test reads approximately 3 months of past history but for those who have used don't fall back on this and also note that if you end up finding out your doing a hair test, don't shave your head because this is an automatic fail. and cost is not a factor because you either get the money or you go to a cheaper school simple. they don't care. personally, i hope that the person asking this question is making new habits and starting a better life or she is just concerned with the cost issue.

Atheos · Mar 22, 2009

Only users question the drug tests.

It isn't a valid question because WHO goes straight to hair tests? They are hella expensive.

Almost everyone does urine, then blood.

Has anyone here even ever been subject to a hair follicle test?

morte, LPN, LVN · Mar 22, 2009

did no one stop and think that the OP may have simply been curious?....and i think that drug testing should totally cease except for cause......

BabyLady, BSN, RN · Mar 22, 2009

Only users question the drug tests.
It isn't a valid question because WHO goes straight to hair tests? They are hella expensive.
Almost everyone does urine, then blood.
Has anyone here even ever been subject to a hair follicle test?

Yes, there is a major hospital system where I live, and every employee gets a hair-follicle test when you are a new hire.

I do take a couple of medications, and I asked if they wanted a medication list, they said, "If there is a problem, we will call you, all you have to do is produce the prescription dated prior to the drug test and you are as good as gold. Otherwise, it's none of our business what you take for other medical conditions."

Atheos · Mar 22, 2009

Yes, there is a major hospital system where I live, and every employee gets a hair-follicle test when you are a new hire.
I do take a couple of medications, and I asked if they wanted a medication list, they said, "If there is a problem, we will call you, all you have to do is produce the prescription dated prior to the drug test and you are as good as gold. Otherwise, it's none of our business what you take for other medical conditions."

Well, they have money then.

Doesn't negate the fact that only a user would be worried.