Drug Testing At Hospitals

Nurses General Nursing

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Hi, I was just wondering if nurses have to take random drug tests for illegal drugs? Don't worry, I'm not a druggie nursing student I was just wondering. We had to do them all the time in the Navy. Thanks.

Specializes in ICU/CCU, CVICU, Trauma.
honeyz said:
I was randomly chosen for a urine test. quiet oh me.. yet the loud nurses and aides that look like there high on something NOT! hmmm I wonder.. was it cause I'm hispanic?? lots of discrimination going on..:idea:

You were RANDOMLY chosen. There was no discrimination. The random prosess doesn't know you're Hispanic.

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Specializes in ICU/CCU, CVICU, Trauma.
Kev702 said:
I am gritting my teeth on THIS one... :angryfire

Why? Has to do with rights. Innocent until PROVEN guilty? Heard of that? Where does it say in the constitution that you have rights and priveleges so long as you can pass a drug test?

Hey, if someone's diverting, yeah, test 'em. That's also STEALING.

Random testing and testing prior to hire is WRONG!

Cave and roll. One more right down the tubes. Totalitarianism is coming. One step at a time.

Sheesh....

What about the patient's right to be taken care of by a nurse that is not using drugs? What right so you have to do something that is illegal? So forget about administrations - the patients have a right to know.

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I think all of this is just plain silly.

Do you hear Airline Pilots or Train Operators, Bus Drivers,etc-anyone who has the LIFE OF ANOTHER HUMAN literally in their hands -in the public eye complaining about this?

It is an expectation. Just think what the general public would say if they stopped random drug testing for the above jobs.........

(edited out screaming;) )

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Specializes in Oncology/Haemetology/HIV.

In most hospitals, everyone is tested, from the nursing staff to the housekeepers, janitors, dietary staff. If they can be tested, why should I be different.

That said, most jobs that I have had outside of nursing required drug tests, and one or two required polygraphes (in music retail work).

My 16 year old niece was required both a drug test and a polygraph to do secretarial work at the local police department. I (as her guardian) had to sign to permit it done.

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Specializes in High Risk In Patient OB/GYN.
Otessa said:
I think all of this is just plain silly.

Do you hear Airline Pilots or Train Operators Bus Drivers,etc-anyone who has the LIFE OF ANOTHER HUMAN literally in their hands -screaming about this??

No one here is screaming. And no, I don't hear any pilots or train operators complaining. Then again, I don't visit pilot or train operator message boards. :uhoh3:

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kellNY-just saying "screaming" in general not literally on any pilot or train operatot boards.

If people knew how many impaired nurses there are i just think things would change.

We hear about the train operator or pilot who is drunk/impaired because it is Federally reportable and if found guilty NEVER work in that field again. There are many health care professionals who are impaired and are quietly dealt with(or not) and continue on to job after job....

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Specializes in High Risk In Patient OB/GYN.
Otessa said:
There are many health care professionals who are impaired and are quietly dealt with(or not) and continue on to job after job....

Yes, and I agree that that's BS and needs to be changed. I do not, however, agree with random drug screening.

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KellNY said:
Actually, it's not a felony, but that's really beside the point. Nurses smoke cigarettes and drink alcohol. kelly

I stand corrected, I think it's a felony for possessing over a certian amount. I have to agree with you, in principle, on this subject; however, the social climate in our country will burn people at the stake that are in positions of public trust that use recreational drugs (except for politicians....funny enough). It's just not a good idea that will lead to potentially HUGE trouble. I do understand your point though.

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Specializes in High Risk In Patient OB/GYN.
Jack39 said:
I stand corrected, I think it's a felony for possessing over a certian amount. I have to agree with you, in principle, on this subject; however, the social climate in our country will burn people at the stake that are in positions of public trust that use recreational drugs (except for politicians....funny enough). It's just not a good idea that will lead to potentially HUGE trouble. I do understand your point though.

I appreciate that. And I do understand what you mean, and I agree. It's a shame though.

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Are the CEOs and CCOs, Director of Training, Nurse Managers, housekeeping, dietary, grounds personnel, maitenance, DONs, receptionist, MDs, spirtuality department, teachers, lab techs, pharmacists, visitors, Head of Finance, medical records, health information, marketing employees also being tested? Drug testing then should be an equal opportunity requirement. Oh, I forgot about the person working in the booth, taking your money for parking. What do you think?

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Specializes in Oncology/Haemetology/HIV.
smarter said:
Are the CEOs and CCOs, Director of Training, Nurse Managers, housekeeping, dietary, grounds personnel, maitenance, DONs, receptionist, MDs, spirtuality department, teachers, lab techs, pharmacists, visitors, Head of Finance, medical records, health information, marketing employees also being tested? Drug testing then should be an equal opportunity requirement. Oh, I forgot about the person working in the booth, taking your money for parking. What do you think?

In most cases, if they receive a check from the hospital and thus employed by it, yes, they have been drug tested. This includes all of the above except visitors and the MDs that merely have privileges (not specifically employed by the facility). And yes, if that person taking parking fees is their employee, they will be drug tested.

Most hospitals post information about being "a drug-free workplace" and if they do, they generally drug test all of their employees, and frequently only do business with other "drug-free" workplaces. Meaning that the venders that supply them, or the construction crews hired by them also do drug testing.

I have worked at facilities that even drug tested their volunteers.

I personally think that MDs should be required to be drug tested. But as the are,, to a certain extent, considered clients of the hospital and are not employees in most cases, they are not tested. Though in many cases, residents/interns are drug tested.

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Chigap, and my other health care professioinal colleagues:I can't be the only RN who HAS worked at top speed for ten hours without a break on more than one occasion. It is not my choice to do so, it is a consequence of the health care system sucking the life out of nurses in their quest to satisfy their greed. Just mho.FYI..I have taken many drug screen urine tests as a traveler and as a local per diem RN. I rarely even drink coffee at work as the environment is more than adequately stimulating, LOL. I took a drug test 4 days ago without prior notice. Rec'd a call from the screening center to tell me I was positive. I supplied them with my otherwise HIPPA protected personal health information, and viola! Drug test now "negative" so I can continue to work at an exhaustive, mind-boggling pace in critical care. Darn lucky for those patients that I am only on the verge of collapse; not on drugs.

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