Drug testing in Nursing Programs? (Anoka Ramsey CC)

K9lover, ASN, RN · Mar 27, 2017

I did tell the life insurance company I used to smoke (and drink) I wanted to disclose everything, they swabbed my cheek for Cocaine as well. I have heard life insurance tests everyone for everything, is this true?

K9lover, ASN, RN · Mar 27, 2017

A commenter stated " would you want a doc or nurse who smokes themselves into Oblivion.

Purple_roses · Mar 27, 2017

Hey, I'm gonna go ahead and hijack this thread for a moment. Does anyone know if nursing schools test for nicotine? I know many hospitals will test employees for insurance reasons, but I haven't heard much about how nursing schools handle it. I use an e-cig so it's not like I smell, but I most likely have nicotine in my body. Also, does anyone know what the tests are like (urine, saliva, hair)? I have no problem quitting if necessary, but I understand that hair can show substance uses from long ago.

My school does not test for it. Students are not allowed smoke breaks though, which I would imagine would be really rough.

NurseLauraM · Mar 28, 2017

I'm an NP and was never tested in RN school, NP school, or for a job. However, I have not smoked since high school because I always knew it was a possibility, which is clear from what others are saying on this post.

I don't think marijuana should be as vilified as it is and I do not believe the drug testing is fair. Someone can smoke crack and pass a drug test a week (or less?) later yet someone who smoked MJ a month ago may test positive. Who would you rather have as your nurse?

Unfortunately, though, our opinions don't matter. The bottom line is, fair or not, you may be tested. I suggest you stop at least one month prior to the beginning school, and become accustomed to the fact that you will probably face this issue for the rest of your career.

Thylacine · Mar 30, 2017

Just quit right now...your employer will test you. If your school doesn't be sure your clinical site does.
I am so confused....you are going into a profession that requires you complete attention to detail at ALL times and ANY delay or error can cost someone their life and you want to know about drug testing because you smoke an illegal substance. Before you go all out singing the praises of marijuana....I am a child of the seventies....Nuff said?
If your mother, brother, lover/wife/husband, child was critically ill do you want someone who smoked themselves to oblivion making life or death decisions?
Just quit now.

I completely agree with you, and I don't think they were saying they plan to smoke or be high on the job.

PTKChic · Mar 30, 2017

Hmm. I agree with the other nurses, smoking while in school is not going to do you any favors. Not sure of ARCC policy, in general, but I attended another MANE program school, and we did not test. That being said, many employers do and if the school suspects you, they may test you in the future. Also, side note, it's very, very easy to find out who people are on the internet. You are starting a nursing program and your classmates will be the only people you will see for a few years, outside of your family. Someone is likely to find out. Just so you know.

Good luck. Congrats on getting into the program.

Avareemama · Mar 30, 2017

Sure, cocaine and heroin could affect your heart so in the case of life insurance Yes, they test for everything.

Horseshoe, BSN, RN · Mar 30, 2017

DRINK a LOT of water, starting RIGHT NOW. I dont know in how long your drug test is, but you can easily get all the weed out of your system in 2 weeks or less, if you just drink a lot of water. Trust me. Thank God my program doesnt drug test.

Not nursing, but my daughter graduated last year from a program that places its grads in high paying jobs. Her friend got a job offer with 125K starting salary. He learned that the employer did pre-employment drug screening, so drink lots of water he did!

He developed a cold sweat when he arrived at the test center and was informed that they would be taking a hair follicle sample.

Oops. Job offer rescinded.

And OP, if your sample is determined to be "dilute" from attempts to beat the drug screen, it may well be the policy of the institution to consider it equivalent to a positive (for illegal drugs) result.

Horseshoe, BSN, RN · Mar 30, 2017

She did not say she smoked a gram before clinicals. It is possible they just take a toke or two after work which would really not be any different than people who have a glass of wine after work, the drug scheduling laws were written on a cocktail napkin I suspect and marijuana is not illegal in every state although it is illegal @ federal level.

It's pretty irrelevant that marijuana is legal in certain states. Employers (and schools) who drug test will disqualify anyone who tests positive for marijuana. This has been challenged in court where weed is legal, and the courts upheld the employer's right to fire employees who test positive.

I would not give it a second thought if my nurse/doctor took a couple of hits of weed any more than I would if they drank a couple of glasses of wine if it were night before.

A lot of us wouldn't either. But this is also irrelevant, because we are not the ones making the hiring/firing/disqualification from clinicals decisions.

lastly I don't recall the nursing student saying she 'smoked herself into oblivion' so where is that coming from?

I agree.

Horseshoe, BSN, RN · Mar 30, 2017

Hi all,
I got accepted into the nursing program at Anoka-Ramsey Community college and I smoke marijuana. I am curious to see if they drug test before clinicals or even before the program starts. If they do drug test, I want to stop smoking right away so that I don't get kicked out.
Thanks all

We can't answer your question. We don't know if your program drug tests. Some do, some don't.

ETA: My apologies. You did name your program (not a great decision imo), so maybe someone from that school can answer.

alsmurf4 · Apr 1, 2017

You're entering a profession that requires honesty, integrity, owning your actions, yet you are trying to decide best how to avoid being detected breaking the law (depending on where you live) or at the very least breaking the rules of the school and places of possible future employment. Please think about this. Don't know if you will be tested for school, but you will be tested upon hiring on at a hospital and probably randomly thereafter. Also after any on the job accident whether you trip over an open file drawer cabinet, cafeteria aide rolls a food tray cart over your toe or you slip in water, you will be tested. Stop now. Don't risk your future and the care of your patients.

Johnsk19 · Aug 11, 2017

Hi! What happened to you with the drug testing? When did they do it?? I too got accepted at ARCC. IS IT DURING ORIENTATION?