Drug testing?

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I was thinking about going into nursing and I was just wondering if drug testing is a requirement. It doesn't say anything on the sheet, only a background check and physical. The physical sheet says i need titers, hep b, and recommended tetorifice, thats all.

Even though it doesn't say anything about testing, I was thinking surely they test you before you go into clinicals. Is this always the case or no? Thanks.

We don't have to take a drug test at my school. However, most if not all hospitals require one as a part of pre-employment screening. Once you have the job, from what RN friends have told me, you probably won't face "random" drug tests. You will most likely sign something saying you are willing to take one at any time, and one friend's whole unit had to with no notice when prescription drugs started disappearing. I don't believe that illegal drugs are any worse for you than alcohol, but since they aren't legal and can cost you your job/license/spot in NS, this is a good time to stop.

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My school required a drug screening, it didnt bother me at all to take it though. I dont take anything illegally so I had nothing to worry about!

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I’ll also be starting nursing school actually around August 20th and I have done my background check as well as my physical. My paper didn’t mention anything about drug test, perhaps we’ll be doing it once we start our clinical; however, you should get in touch with the nursing school & ask:idea:…I’m sure they will tell you whether there’s drug screening test or not…

Best of luck….

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Well, I smoke weed now and again. I smoked last about 2 weeks ago. Obviously I am not going to be able to do that anymore once I start school/and or become a professional. However, it just occurred to me if they sprang a drug test I might be in trouble. I don't want to get screwed before I started. Thanks for the replies, I went stealth and called up as a prospective student and asked them straight out, they said they don't do that. Hopefully they're telling the truth. If I stop now I should be good from here on out.

Mike

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Specializes in Junior Year of BSN.
Well, I smoke weed now and again. I smoked last about 2 weeks ago. Obviously I am not going to be able to do that anymore once I start school/and or become a professional. However, it just occurred to me if they sprang a drug test I might be in trouble. I don't want to get screwed before I started. Thanks for the replies, I went stealth and called up as a prospective student and asked them straight out, they said they don't do that. Hopefully they're telling the truth. If I stop now I should be good from here on out.

Mike

Well all you have to do is stop right now. You know the answer, and more than likely policies ALWAYS CHANGE. Sometimes its not the nursing school that wants the drug test but the hospital where clinicals are will want this to cover there butt. Just stop smoking, I am not faulting you for doing that, in high school I did but once I became an adult its not fun anymore. Your an adult now you know the consequences. Just stop smoking and you would not have to worry about it.

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Specializes in OB, M/S, HH, Medical Imaging RN.
People that are not doing illegal drugs, should never fear of a drug test.

I don't even ask what a company's policy is on it...it doesn't concern me in the least because they aren't going to find anything.

:yeahthat::yeahthat::yeahthat::yeahthat::yeahthat::yeahthat::yeahthat:

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Specializes in ER/Ortho.

Mike, mike, mike, mike, mike, mike

Just think of all the money you will be making. It will make you feel better than the pot ever did.

Actually I think more people than we realize actually smoke pot. Last year I was at a PTA meeting, and one of the best well dressed moms smelled just like pot. She has her own business. Anyway, it is something you want to consider cause can't really do it in our line of work. And if you ever do it, and get caught I am not sure what would happen overall. Worst case you could lose your license and all the work you have done would be for nothing. Best case it would follow you around on your permanent record and you would have a heard time finding a job. So you got to give it up.

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We were required for a drug screen before getting into the program. You will be taking care of patients while in school and during clinical. They want to make certain you're on the up and up and won't put anyone in jeaopardy. As they should.

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Specializes in CNA, RN Student.

Okay call me silly, and this is where everyone thinks I am just a tad "paranoid" but I'm one of those people who always thinks I will be tagged for something I'm not doing or didn't do--LOL. When I see police lights in my rearview and I'm not doing anything wrong, I panic for a second thinking they might "think" I'm doing something wrong. I have a perfectly clean criminal background, never been arrested, not ever a tie-up with the law-EVER, but I get scared that someone might have used my name and my criminal background check will have something on it. When I was fingerprinted for my CNA license for a brief moment I thought, What if I touched something right before a crime happened? Or I fear that I may have eaten something that might show up as an "illegal drug" haha I can thank Elaine on Seinfeld for that one--remember the episode where she ate all the poppyseed muffins and she tested positive for opium? LOL, yeah and thanks to all the identity theft episodes of 20/20 and Dateline for giving me this little bit of paranoia. I gotta stop watching CSI! or TV all together!

Anyhoo, Mike...I hope you can put it behind you now! I would definitely be careful, the school may not require it but your clinical rotation site might, that's how it is at my school. It's not the school that wants one but the hospitals that do. So, I know easier said than done, but try to kick the habit so all your hard work doesn't end up being a waste of your time, you know what I mean?

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Specializes in Emergency.

All hospitals require testing as a part of the hiring process. Most hospitals have you sign saying you will submit to random testing as ordered. Some schools test and some don't. I personally do not use drugs (although my HS days and early 20's were a different story).

I will say that I think it's a shame that the #1 reason that nurses lose their licenses is for drug use. Most of them are stealing from their patients or have MDs that are prescription happy. Having experienced working with a nurse who is high and stealing from her pts, I know that I would never want to be in her shoes. My state BON does have an intervention program to help RNs/LPNs with an addiction problem. They may be suspended and required to attend rehab, but can get their license back if they comply with the requirements and continue to be closely monitored for sobriety.

My opinion: no drug is worth the risk to my career. Legitimate prescriptions (as long as you have proof are ok) are one thing and noone should be penalized for that.

Our occ health center asks questions about otc meds and herbals prior to testing. FYI: even Green Tea can test as a positive!

If you have an addiction or are a regular user you will eventually get caught...Don't do it!

Amy

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Well, I smoke weed now and again. I smoked last about 2 weeks ago. Obviously I am not going to be able to do that anymore once I start school/and or become a professional. However, it just occurred to me if they sprang a drug test I might be in trouble. I don't want to get screwed before I started. Thanks for the replies, I went stealth and called up as a prospective student and asked them straight out, they said they don't do that. Hopefully they're telling the truth. If I stop now I should be good from here on out.

Mike

See.. You never know unless you ask.

Mike,

I hope for your sake, and more for the patient's sake, that you do quit. It is vital that you stop doing drugs or that the hospital catches you, before you start taking care of patients, if you decide to continue.

You may be able to get through the drug test. You may be able to get through nursing school without getting caught. Even though you might not get high while on the job, you know that your concentration level is not nearly as good as it would be if you were straight edge for at least a week. When I used to get "blunted", it would take me a week to get my wits about me. Not that I was still high for a week, but rather, it was like being...in a fog. That's the best way to describe it. It really took about a week to feel free of that fog. Trying to use critical thinking in that fog is impossible. You would be putting patients lives at risk. Not good.

Good luck on being straight edge! God Bless!

:trout:

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Specializes in ER/Ortho.

Al7139....

NOT my green tea!!!! I drink green tea every night before bed. It has ecunachia (spelling) to boost the immune system. I used to catch every little cold my kids brought home, and now I get sick like one a year since adding a multi-vitamin, and green tea to my diet. It eliminates free radicals. I will just have to take the package with me for the drug test lol.

I just watched a special on pot the other day. I am older (37), and wasn't an angle in high school either. When I was a wild child we grew it, dried it, rolled it and smoked it. On this special they were saying that today there are all these different kinds, and none of them are just pure basic pot. It's all processed with additives to intensify the effect etc. Back in the day (I love to say that) your pure pot wasn't really addictive. Now they say the additives have make it really, really addictive. I can't remember the figures, but it was somewhere in the high 80 % of teens need rehab to kick habit, and a very high % relapse afterward. And the high isn't the same instead of feeling fuzzy, and funny for an hour it is more intense, and lasts longer. Some of the additives can cause additional symptoms depending on what it is. Very scary stuff.

Desert Rain....

Your not paranoid in my opinion your just on top of things lol. Here in the Dallas/Fort Worth area just a few months ago there was a story on the news. The police went into an elementary school, handcuffed, and arrested a food service worker. She was freaking because she knew she had not done anything. They arrested her for making, and dealing drugs (not exactly a good thing for someone who works in an elementary school). It came out a few days later that they had arrested the wrong person, and she just had the same name. It wasn't even ID theft!!! She was just guilty of having a common name, and living in the same city. I check my credit reports every few months just to make sure my identity is safe. I have NEVER had a run in with the law. My worse offense to day was an expired registration sticker on my car which I promptly got, and it was dismissed. I figure even if something like the above happens like the lady we were talking about I will be able to fix it.

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