Drug test

crb613, BSN, RN · Aug 18, 2005

crb - first of all, Rock Chalk Jayhawk - KU > UK
Second of all - that sucks - I can understand if there is a suspected problem - but to pee test students with no warning if there are no issues is just facist, IMO. Were you at least told there would be random UAs? Or was it completley out of the blue?

Nope I don't ever remember being told we would have one. I did not have a problem with it & had thought we probally would at some time.Our orientation is Fri. so I am going to see if it is mentioned. BTW cats love birds!:smiley_ab

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Aug 18, 2005

I wouldn't pay. They want it? They can pay for it.

Sorry, but no.

It is a cost of going to school for nursing. Like your physical and your titers.

Some places are requiring fingerprint checks. As in if the hospitals in the area require drug tests and/or fingerprints, the students that will be doing clinical in the facility will have the same requirement.

Thus it is generally the facility requirements not the school.

And in some cases it may be required by the school's/facility's liability/malpractice coverage.

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Aug 18, 2005

Second of all - that sucks - I can understand if there is a suspected problem - but to pee test students with no warning if there are no issues is just facist, IMO. Were you at least told there would be random UAs? Or was it completley out of the blue?

I hate to burst your bubble...but in virtually every facility that I have worked in six different states, peeing in cup is part of the drill.

And most schools have little riders attached to admission to the College/University that you will obey the law and may be kicked out for not obeying the law. And using nonprescribed/illegal meds is against the law.

If you have a problem with proving that you are always clean of drugs, this is not a very good career field to get into.

z's playa · Aug 18, 2005

Sorry, but no.
It is a cost of going to school for nursing. Like your physical and your titers.
Some places are requiring fingerprint checks. As in if the hospitals in the area require drug tests and/or fingerprints, the students that will be doing clinical in the facility will have the same requirement.
Thus it is generally the facility requirements not the school.
And in some cases it may be required by the school's/facility's liability/malpractice coverage.

Not sure what you're saying sorry but no for........ :chuckle

Up here....every blood test is paid for by the school. Hep....varicella....and if there was a drug test...that too. Even the N95 mask is paid for.

Drug tests at the hospital or LTC are paid for.

Z

speedykicks · Aug 19, 2005

"If you have a problem with proving that you are always clean of drugs, this is not a very good career field to get into."

Yes -well when you go for a job at a facility you are told ahead of time that it is a drug-free work place, or hiring is dependent on a clean ua. Once you're hired you are told about policies for when UAs are done. If nursing schools put the same info. out there ahead of time- great. I don't have a problem proving I am always clean of drugs, this isn't about me, but rather an atmosphere and respect for people's integrity. I understand and support the need for UAs for nurses and nursing students, but I believe everyone deserves information about their bodily fluids being collected and screened - even if it is just "acceptance into this program is dependent on the ability to pass random, unannounced UAs" in the student handbook or application, etc.

boopchick · Aug 19, 2005

If it's required, the school should be paying for it. I would think they would want it done at a specific lab of their choice also?

hikernurse · Aug 19, 2005

hiker - were you told they were coming? I am disturbed by reports that new nursing students aren't given information about drug screens and then they show up and suprise - pee in the cup.

We were told that a drug test would be required but the date would be announced later. On the first day of orientation we were told that we had three days to complete the test but that the lab would be there the next day if we didn't want to drive across town to take it. I wish they had told us we had to pay in cash--no checks; fortunately, I had the money, but not all the students did.

I guess some of the hospitals (but not nursing homes) require the drug test prior to clinicals.

wonderbee, BSN, RN · Aug 19, 2005

I don't understand why students don't see the need to take responsibility for paying for drug testing. The school wants it because the patients you will be working on are entitled to a drug free student nurse and you are working on your instructor's license. You are going to benefit by the degree or diploma. Why should the school pay for it? It's the cost of an education like books, tuition, uniforms, etc. Later on, when working at a facility, the employer will pick up the tab for the pre-employment physical and drug testing, but you're not there yet.

Go to your family doctor or one of those free standing independent walk-in clinics if you have concerns about privacy.

speedykicks · Aug 19, 2005

We already have to pay for injections, physicals, books, scrubs, shoes - makes since we would be asked to pay for this too.

"The school wants it because the patients you will be working on are entitled to a drug free student nurse "

The problem with this logic is assuming that a UA ensures the patient has a drug free nurse- given the window of time that most of the most dangerous and debilitating drugs are out of your system- a UA doesn't guarantee anything beyond that the student or nurse wasn't using meth, cocaine, speed, heroin in the few days prior to the test, weed the week before the test, or didn't have the ability to cheat the test if they were.

My roommate in my first college experience had a sister-in-law who was an addict and a nurse - she stole drugs right and fricken' left - she called in fake prescriptions to get more drugs - she went to work high many, many times. She stole my roomates pain killers after she had knee surgery. She passed every UA she was ever given. Guess that is why I hate the hysteria around this - it isn't a solution to the problem.

Areinn · Aug 20, 2005

Drug test and finger print testing was required prior to orientation. The two tests cost about $90.00-$100.00 total. I didn't have a problem with them being required but I think it should have been paid for by the school, included in the tuition, whatever. I have had to do the pee-in-a-cup test for 2 jobs in the past, telephone cust serv jobs, and both times they were paid for by the potential employer.

Mommy TeleRN, RN · Aug 20, 2005

We had to do it within 24 hrs of our initial orientation (the one right after you find out you are accepted into the program) the school did pay for it upfront, it is built into some of our costs. I guess that way they can make it a "suprise" :biggringi and not have a student without the cash.

I still have so much to pay for... thank God I get my FA check the first day of school. I already have put out $40 for malpractice policy, $60 kit, $50 background check, $90 for physical/immunizations (would have been WAY more but the NP at the Health Dept was very sweet to do it there for reduced rate). oh and $25 for the CPR class.

I still have to buy :

a steth (hoping for at least a Littman Classic II..would love the Cardio III but that may have to wait,

nursing shoes (was going to buy Dansko but this semester I'll only be in clinical 5 hrs a week so I doubt I'll have too achy of feet LOL)

Specialty uniform (not sure what that is, I don't think too much, I already have pants, gotta get apron & patch)

I also have to get a few odds & ends like pen light, watch, etc... oh yea and BOOKS. This will be most of my FA check. I won't find out book list until Monday and that only gives me a week to get them, doubtful I'll have time to bargain shop the web

I'll figure it all out.. LOL.. I always do!

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Aug 20, 2005

If it's required, the school should be paying for it.

Well, uniforms are required, physicals are required, books are required....yet the student must pay for those.

And, as far as including it in other fees, why should the liberal arts and journalism students pay the added fee (when they are not going to be seeing patients and have to prove they are drug free.

Again, in most cases it is not the "school" requiring it, it is the malpractice insurance coverage for those supervising the students or for the hospital providing the practice site. And they can require what they want in exchange for providing coverage.

Again, if you don't like the requirements that nursing places upon one ( whether you consider them fair or not - it doesn't matter), then don't become a nurse. You have that freedom of choice.