Drug Testing At Hospitals

jessegw1 · Jul 26, 2006

I used to be a truck driver and DOT/police can order a drug test anytime without cause, just do it or lose license. I did preceptorship at Metro jail and we had 4 former RN's in jail at same time. Nearly all inmates had drug problem as well as whatever they did. One former RN tried to rob a drug store with a hunting knife, demanded only Oxycodone, never mentioned cash. I think President, cabinet and congress should take drug tests and results made public. Whenever I take drug tests I always mention I hope I fail so I can sue them. Trucking companies usually will give another test immediately if demanded, hair testing is expensive, but is a record of everything while hair was growing. Bush deserted National Guard in 1972 as they started drug testing, he even did some time (community service) in Texas for cocain posession, record later expunged. Drugs are a problem, no doubt about it.

lannisz · Jul 26, 2006

sassyg0110 said:
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 HIPAA 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.

Was it positive due to a prescribed drug? Do you just have to show them your prescriptions in order to be cleared? I work with other nurses who openly talk about what (prescription) drugs they are taking just to be able to function AT work: Xanax tid for anxiety (stress is due to workload, poor staffing, etc) Vicodin for severe pain....I don't consider these coworkers drug abusers, but just trying to cope because they too are "on the verge". I don't take anything but tylenol when working, but I'll admit - after 3 shifts in a row, my first day off I AM in pain! Please tell me that having a valid prescription will "clear" an RN with a positive test!

sassyg0110 · Jul 26, 2006

ZIAS,Presribed medication. Many RNs I work with are very open about having and using scripts for xanax, ambien, vicodin. Some even discuss MJ use (they must like to live on the edge). These same RNs are highly skilled, compassionate and adhere to high levels of professionalism. I not seen any of them behave in an inconsistent or erratic manner while at work. One RN takes Xanax 0.25 QID for an anxiety disorder. None of us disrespect her or questoin her ability to function well; we work with her and know her.Chill out, discuss the options with your MD or DO...whomever you deem appropriate. Weight lifting can really help with the release of endorphins...it helps me (as long as it's not too close to bedtime), to relax.

jessegw1 · Jul 27, 2006

Eating Poppy seeds are supposed to sometimes give a positive for opium. A hamburger/ roll with poppy seeds might be best avoided, but then trucking companies, etc. with experience with drug testing are usually willing to retest without a problem. I talked to a drug tester, and he said amounts have to be rather large to give a positive so poppy seeds might be just a rumor. Being in a room with smoke from something probably would not be detectable, but inhaling from a joint would. I don't even take tylenol. I am trying to learn more about plants though.

I think refined sugar, high fruictose corn syrup, concentrated fruit juice, aspertame, etc. should be illegal also.

Gompers, BSN, RN · Jul 27, 2006

jessegw1 said:
Eating Poppy seeds are supposed to sometimes give a positive for opium. A hamburger/ roll with poppy seeds might be best avoided, but then trucking companies, etc. with experience with drug testing are usually willing to retest without a problem. I talked to a drug tester, and he said amounts have to be rather large to give a positive so poppy seeds might be just a rumor. Being in a room with smoke from something probably would not be detectable, but inhaling from a joint would. I don't even take tylenol. I am trying to learn more about plants though.
I think refined sugar, high fruictose corn syrup, concentrated fruit juice, aspertame, etc. should be illegal also.

Are you kidding???

Who are you to decide what people can eat and drink?

Otessa, BSN, RN · Jul 27, 2006

poppy seeds can be a problem. my hubby is a pilot and poppy seed muffins are NEVER given as a side for breakfast or other.

jessegw1 · Jul 27, 2006

I'm not the one to decide who eats or drinks what. Coke did that with cocaine, Rumsfield, architect of military disaster in Iraq, did it with aspertame. I just think awareness is best. Look at labels for anything , how much sugar or corn syrup in it? The movie Strip Tease with Demi Moore "its vasoiline, I can feel it down in my boots" corrupt congressman was bought by Refined sugar interests. Anyone aware if Type 2 diabetic discussions going on in US. I think white/bleached flour should be illegal also.

Look at rows and rows of plastic bottles filled with sugar/chemicals in a grocery store. Making lots of money when whole rows are devoted to that junk. Standard soft drink formulas have 1tsp. of sugar per ounce of liquid

Anyway back to illegal drugs and drug testing,I found it a good idea to get some sort of commitment to have a second test done if 1st test comes back positive before taking any test. No one should object to more testing but a refusal can result in firing.

Interesting about poppy seed muffins, I was sort of thinking it might be just rumor before you posted.

ghoprn · Jul 28, 2006

I believe if a nurse is dipping into the computerized medication system, my experence has been they always get caught. Why should I, as a professional person be subjected to drug testing because another person has a problem? You don't see doctors, lawyers, and et al being tested! Why do nurse's put up with this I don't know, after all we too are professionals. It's about time we demanded the same respect. Btw I haven't had a mind altering substance in my body for 18yrs. including alcohol. Personally it's an insult that we all have to be tested...although, I certainly would not lose a job because I refused to be tested.

malka · Jul 29, 2006

my DON was just fired for who knows what Real reason. She was originally suspected of taking drugs(she has a legit. reason)but tested clean. None the less, she got fired. Others at work tested pos. for MJ. Administrator cleaning house...says nurses are a dime a dozen, and she herself is a nurse...we have more call offs from agencies, less prn nurses and we are continually short...where are the 'dime a dozen' nurses. That was not a good comment from one of our own.

grace90, LPN, LVN · Jul 29, 2006

At our hospital they drug test anyone who gets hurt on the job and has to visit ER. When I had a needle-stick 1.5 years ago, they drug-tested me. A coworker got punched in the face by a demented patient and got drug-tested. Another coworker had JP fluid splash her in the face, one had MRSA-infected urine splash in her eyes- both had to be drug-tested when they were sent to ER. Other than that they don't do random testing. Everyone gets a drug test at hiring. If a narcotic comes up missing, they'll test everyone on the unit. Last year a night nurse got fired for refusing a drug test because they called her in the middle of the afternoon to come in and she couldn't make it at that time.

twotrees2 · Aug 1, 2006

crazylilkelly said:
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

any place I have worked itis policy that they can do drug testing when and if they deem appropriate - generally if someone has an accident or they make a bad error - then yes theyd test - we also had one tested and fired for coming to9 work under the influince and we suspected ita nd had him tested and he came back positive. not just in the medical fiewld - most places are going to9 this. most places even do a drug screen at the initial physical also.

twotrees2 · Aug 1, 2006

KellNY said:
Excuse me, but maybe they're taking legally prescribed drugs that they are uncomfortable with their employer knowing about.
Maybe they take a Xanax before bed every once in a while because they get anxiety attacks after working a full unit. Maybe they have a bad back from lifting too many patients without enough staff to assist and were prescribed Percocet or Norco. And you know what--that's no one elses business, really.
(I'm also of the apparently unpopular mindset that if a nurse smokes MJ occasionally on her days off, that is also no one elses business--as long as it's not affecting her job performance, but that's beside the point)
FTR, I don't take/do anything at this point in my life that would show up on any drug screen, but I would be opposed to taking one. (probably not opposed enough that I'd lose my job for it, LOL, but opposed enough that if I were to choose between being employed at a hospital that does drug testing vs. one that doesn't--all other areas equal--I'd go to the non drug testing facility)

at my current place they even have you fill out a full health report including any meds you are on - I was sure id never be hired LOL with the fact I take some pain killers for fibrmyalgia dn antianxiety for my stress - I did fill it out and they did hire me and thanked me for being so honest in my reporting -