background check/dug screening

BabyLady, BSN, RN · 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.

Not true.

It is accruate from 90 days up to as long as 6 months for some drugs.

So, for someone that has really long hair, if the hair at the tip started growing 4 years ago, and you smoked pot 4 years ago, the answer is no, it will NOT show up on a hair follicle test.

It just gives a longer windown, but it's not forever.

So, if someone smoked pot 6 months ago, that means that they smoked it DURING nursing school, and I fully support a hospital not hiring that individual.

BabyLady, BSN, RN · Mar 22, 2009

Well, they have money then.
Doesn't negate the fact that only a user would be worried.

I agree. I'm not a user, never have been (other than stupid, one or two time experimentation in high school)..I have a prescription for the one or two drugs that I take PRN...and I may go one or two monts and not even take those.

I have never, ever asked how a drug test is given. To me, it doesn't matter.

CorazonDeOro · Mar 22, 2009

Maybe she just wants to know because most schools require you to pay our of pocket and a urine test is much less expensive than a blood or hair test. I am not a drug user and I would be curious how much it was going to cost me. I also have heard of people getting kicked out of school for taking things they are PRESCRIBED, which makes me nervous because I take many different things for migraines that may show up and may hurt my standing. I don't think it is fair to assume she is taking drugs.

Atheos · Mar 22, 2009

Maybe she just wants to know because most schools require you to pay our of pocket and a urine test is much less expensive than a blood or hair test. I am not a drug user and I would be curious how much it was going to cost me. I also have heard of people getting kicked out of school for taking things they are PRESCRIBED, which makes me nervous because I take many different things for migraines that may show up and may hurt my standing. I don't think it is fair to assume she is taking drugs.

That information would be listed somewhere.

Along with all of the other fees don't you think?

CorazonDeOro · Mar 22, 2009

That information would be listed somewhere.
Along with all of the other fees don't you think?

My school just says "a drug screen is required" so until orientation I will not know what that entails, this girl may be in the same boat? or not...who knows? who cares?

Atheos · Mar 22, 2009

Well HeartOfGold...

In my multiple years of dealing with addicts, smokers, potheads and what not, I can tell you. Normal people just note the drug test, users obsess over it.

What can I say...

BabyLady, BSN, RN · Mar 23, 2009

Maybe she just wants to know because most schools require you to pay our of pocket and a urine test is much less expensive than a blood or hair test. I am not a drug user and I would be curious how much it was going to cost me. I also have heard of people getting kicked out of school for taking things they are PRESCRIBED, which makes me nervous because I take many different things for migraines that may show up and may hurt my standing. I don't think it is fair to assume she is taking drugs.

Which is against the law, unless the medication leaves you so sedated or has other major side affects that would render you unsafe to be able to perform the job.

That is why you have "heard" of it, and don't know anyone personally that it has happened to.

People have a legal right to be treated.

No one gets kicked out of nursing school for pain meds that they have a prescription for.

However, they do reserve the right, even if you have a valid prescription, to state that you are abusing the prescription of your concentration levels in your blood are 5x (for example) what a reasonable use of the prescription si for...b/c it's indicative of abuse.

CreoleFromtheBoot · Mar 23, 2009

Wow!! I'm almost speechless! Some of you ASSumed this person is a druggie just from reading her question and even after someone checked you on it you insist on judging this person. Drug addicts aren't what's wrong with Nursing... catty women/men who pre-judge, judge, and assume about other people is what's wrong with nursing. FYI, you know what they say about assumptions...

IMHO of course.

AirforceRN, RN · Mar 23, 2009

Withdrawn

morte, LPN, LVN · Mar 23, 2009

Which is against the law, unless the medication leaves you so sedated or has other major side affects that would render you unsafe to be able to perform the job.
That is why you have "heard" of it, and don't know anyone personally that it has happened to.
People have a legal right to be treated.
No one gets kicked out of nursing school for pain meds that they have a prescription for.
However, they do reserve the right, even if you have a valid prescription, to state that you are abusing the prescription of your concentration levels in your blood are 5x (for example) what a reasonable use of the prescription si for...b/c it's indicative of abuse.

you may be wrong, in florida......i believe someone posted here that the npa in florida says cant work if TAKING prescription opiates...i would think the schools there would follow.....

rubysunshine · Mar 23, 2009

It's just a question, I don't see why it's anyone's business why this person asked about the drug test. I was curious as to how I'd be tested when I started working at my current hospital, doesn't mean I'm doing meth everyday....or ever. :rolleyes:

Atheos · Mar 23, 2009

It's just a question, I don't see why it's anyone's business why this person asked about the drug test. I was curious as to how I'd be tested when I started working at my current hospital, doesn't mean I'm doing meth everyday....or ever.

If you make your business public it's the public's business... Shrug...

This is an open forum. If you post a thread people are goingto discuss the thread, the motivation of the thread the silliness or seriousness of the thread and so on.