Does anyone know if the Inova Hospitals in VA test hair or urine for their drug test?

TakeTwoAspirin, MSN, RN, APRN · Aug 28, 2012

Yes, you are way over thinking this. No, I don't believe INOVA does hair testing - I don't know of any hospital in the DC metro area that does (not that I know the policies of all the hospitals in the area, but you do tend to hear things like that on the grapevine).

Good luck.

annieolpn · Sep 1, 2012

You are waaay over thinking it...how long ago was the surgery, what kind of surgery was it? Just be upfront.with the interviewer...let he or she know that you did have surgery not too long ago just in case something shows up als if your surgeon sent you home with pain meds, keep the bottle handy...opiates are usually out of your system in about 10 days to thre weeks but let them know and they will handle it the way they do...no worries sell yourself in the interview and you will do fine...they can't fault you for having had surgery and needing pain medication after...good luck

sassiredpontiac · Sep 1, 2012

I do not know the answer for the hospital in question, but from what I have heard, most places do not test hair. Also, it is common practice for the testing facility to have you list all medications, etc. that you have taken. Be sure to be thorough on this list and include the surgery meds if possible. If it is questionable, they may ask for proof from the doctor/surgeon. Try not to stress too much about it. I did the same thing when I got my job because I take Ambien for insomnia. It was not even mentioned and I am working full-time as a RN. My hospital used an off-site testing lab and I have been told that the hospital hiring manager has no part of the testing or knows that outcome. But who knows if this is true, since I live in a small town and it seems everyone knows everything about everybody. Good luck and I am sure you will do fine.

Whispera, MSN, RN · Sep 1, 2012

If anything shows up on your drug test, no matter what kind, if you have verification that it's in your system due to surgery, there will be no issue. Be up front about it too.

kimsey · Sep 1, 2012

Hair tests are not typically used as employment drug screenings - they're very costly and most places don't want to pay for them - not only that according to wikipedia (which is not always an accurate source) the standard hair tests cover 30 to 90 days. I was literally in the hospital waiting to have my angry & inflamed gallbladder removed when I got a call that I was being hired to a job I had applied to - I took my bottle of rx meds down to the physical/screening place and had zero problem and question - I honestly don't think I had a positive test either because I had pretty much switched to anti-inflammatory meds by that point and was only taking the potent stuff for breakthrough pain, but I told them and brought my bottles, and even had a waiver to begin work while taking narcotic painkillers. I had more problems getting a waiver releasing me to work from my general surgeon than I did with the drug test/physical.

Don't sweat it, as long as you can get some sort of documentation should you need it, then you won't have any issues at all - sadly there are plenty of people who get past these screenings and have NO business passing them - a good example is that tech that ended up infecting a lot of people with hep c because he was a drug user. (for reference: Hepatitis C Outbreak: Arrest Of Medical Technician David Kwiatkowski Shows Flaws In System)

Alice D Smith · Sep 1, 2012

You just have your MD write a Rx to cover any med that shows up indicating that it was for clinical purposes.

JMBnurse · Sep 2, 2012

I have always heard to take all of your scripts with you and tell them up front what medications you have taken or "list them on the paperwork", etc. People told me you have to tell them before you take the test, not after. After the test, it's too late. Every time I go to take a pre-employment drug screen, they never give me the chance. They have never given me any paperwork to fill out. I started to tell them about some medications I had taken the last time and the lab tech said, "Don't worry about that, it doesn't matter. They are only screening for illegal drugs." So, I don't think you need to worry.

krenee · Sep 8, 2012

If the Inova hospitals in VA test hair, or urine for their drug tests?
Before anyone gets upset: I'm not a drug user. At all. But I had surgery recently, and I'm sure that something they pumped into me at that time will show up on a test. And I know that's legal and all, but I'm worried that my eligibility will decrease in the hiring manager's eyes, because of possible disability or what have you.
So I was just curious...I'd appreciate any input! I can easily pass a urine test, but I suppose if it is a hair test, I'll need some sort of documentation stating when and where I received said medications? I think I'm over-thinking this. It's just my first job, and I'm so nervous...

I just got hired, and they did saliva. I'm sure you'll be fine. Just tell the nurse at employee health if there's something you're worried about it.