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.

My school is very liberal about health tests required for admission to nursing school.

I didnt had to take drug test.

I didnt had to take HIV test.

For all they know I could be a pot smoker or HIV carrrier and my school wouldnt even care to find out!

Its strange how they set their health standarts, well more saved money for me;)

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Specializes in High Risk In Patient OB/GYN.
My school is very liberal about health tests required for admission to nursing school.

I didnt had to take drug test.

I didnt had to take HIV test.

For all they know I could be a pot smoker or HIV carrrier and my school wouldnt even care to find out!

Its strange how they set their health standarts, well more saved money for me;)

Your HIV status would have no bearing on anything. I've never even heard of a school that required an HIV test and would question the legalities of such a requirement.

You couldn't be denied entrance into nursing school or employment based on that. The same is not true for drug screening.

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Specializes in Post Anesthesia.

Boy times have changed since I went to school! My school never did drug testing without cause (coming to clinicals stoned- yes it has happened). My employer only does drug testing on nurses with cause. I'm glad schools are taking this more seriously. Your chances of learning what you need in nursing collage are not absolute without trying to learn chemically impaired.

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Your HIV status would have no bearing on anything. I've never even heard of a school that required an HIV test and would question the legalities of such a requirement.

You couldn't be denied entrance into nursing school or employment based on that. The same is not true for drug screening.

Then let me ask you this question, since you think its illegal and uncessary for the school or employers to ask about one's HIV test, than how come majority school have a legal right to ask about Hepatitis B, both of the disease are contagious only via blood or fluids (please dont try to say that Hepatis B is contagious through touch or using the same plates, towels blalbla, I had my grandfather having this disease and living with bunch of family for many years and no one has it) that what is the whole exctiment over the importance of getting Hepatitis B test done before entering nursing school? This is in a way very hipocritical in my opinion to ask for one but not the other...but maybe just maybe I should sue my school for having the audicity to ask of me to be tested for Hepatitis B, indeed I need the money for my tuition.

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:idea:

Then let me ask you this question, since you think its illegal and uncessary for the school or employers to ask about one's HIV test, than how come majority school have a legal right to ask about Hepatitis B, both of the disease are contagious only via blood or fluids (please dont try to say that Hepatis B is contagious through touch or using the same plates, towels blalbla, I had my grandfather having this disease and living with bunch of family for many years and no one has it) that what is the whole exctiment over the importance of getting Hepatitis B test done before entering nursing school? This is in a way very hipocritical in my opinion to ask for one but not the other...but maybe just maybe I should sue my school for having the audicity to ask of me to be tested for Hepatitis B, indeed I need the money for my tuition.

The reason they ask us for this information is because there is a vacinne available as well as the fact that it is easier for you to get Hep B from a needle stick etc, than it is for you to get HIV under the same circumstances. Why didn't you ask them why they wanted to information? I am sure they would have or did let you know.

Hepatitis B (HBV) is more easily transmissible than HIV, and is one of the more common blood-borne pathogens among health care workers. The CDC approximates the probability of contracting HBV from a needlestick injury to be anywhere between 6 and 30 percent. It's also estimated that between 100 and 200 health care workers die each year from HBV infection. Since a vaccine is available, health care workers are advised to be immunized.

whereas for HIV---

It's important to keep in mind that most needlestick injuries do not involve HIV-infected blood. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) estimates that of the some 800,000 injuries each year, only about 2 percent (approximately 16,000) involve needles that are likely to be contaminated with HIV. Of those 2 percent of needlestick injuries where HIV-infected blood is known to be present, the chance of HIV transmission is estimated to be between 0.3 and 0.45 percent.

Again, that is waaaay below the estimated 6-30% for HepB.

On my unit of 50 patients---we have only 2 with HIV. We have more than 20, however, that are positive for Hep ..

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I dont think at this point school is looking out for our interest by requiring us to have the Hepatits B test done.

If that was the case, they would 'only" offer as a Hepatis B shots, that alone would be enough to protect us from the disease. I dont find any correlation between school requiring us to have Hepatitis B done and looking out for our interest. I believe we have all those tests done not for own protection but for the patient protection, like TB test and others, while I agree that some vacinnations for easily transimittable disease are for our own protections, but it works the both ways...for the patient's sake and our sakes.

OFF TOPIC:/

Even thought HIV testing might sound like some form of discrimination it is taken under consideration in many aspects of life. For example when I was about to enter US I had to get HIV test before they would let me transpass. Now I'm very convinced that if I had had a positive results I would not be able to come to this country, some me find this unethical but it is legal to ask for your HIV status in cases like this. Now dont get me wrong I have nothing against HIV people but I would rather know if the nurse who takes care of me have HIV so I would take special precussions, just I'm sure you would want to know that your patient has HIV to take special precautions, just like I would like for a nurse who have TB to wear mask when takes care of me or at least be on medications, I hope that makes sense.

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Specializes in CNA, RN Student.
I dont think at this point school is looking out for our interest by requiring us to have the Hepatits B test done.

If that was the case, they would 'only" offer as a Hepatis B shots, that alone would be enough to protect us from the disease. I dont find any correlation between school requiring us to have Hepatitis B done and looking out for our interest. I believe we have all those tests done not for own protection but for the patient protection, like TB test and others, while I agree that some vacinnations for easily transimittable disease are for our own protections, but it works the both ways...for the patient's sake and our sakes.

OFF TOPIC:/

Even thought HIV testing might sound like some form of discrimination it is taken under consideration in many aspects of life. For example when I was about to enter US I had to get HIV test before they would let me transpass. Now I'm very convinced that if I had had a positive results I would not be able to come to this country, some me find this unethical but it is legal to ask for your HIV status in cases like this. Now dont get me wrong I have nothing against HIV people but I would rather know if the nurse who takes care of me have HIV so I would take special precussions, just I'm sure you would want to know that your patient has HIV to take special precautions, just like I would like for a nurse who have TB to wear mask when takes care of me or at least be on medications, I hope that makes sense.

One of the main reasons the require the HIV testing as well as the thorough physical exam is because a lot of times people from other countries have serious illnesses and try to "sneak" into the U.S. and then end up costing the American taxpayers millions of dollars in their healthcare. For example, someone might get married for green card, have some serious illness, come to the U.S. end up on some kind of government assistance and then have all their treatments paid for. HIV (as well as other serious health problems) cost so much money in medication and treatment. So it's not a "discriminatory" issue on behalf of the USCIS and the United States, it's a financial precaution.

And when you say "hepatits b test" do you think what they mean is a titer? Because you're right, it is silly to require a Hep B test and not any other especially if the students have to pay for it on top of many other immunization expenses! My school does not require the test to be taken, it only requires the Vaccinations or titer proving immunity.

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Specializes in High Risk In Patient OB/GYN.

My school required one of 3 things as far as Hep B goes

  • Proven immunity (via titres)
  • Accepting the series of vaccination
  • Documentation of your "refusal" (ie, sign a form that you decline)

The requirement was the same in every health care setting with which I've been employed (as a medical assistant, LPN, and now RN). This includes hospitals, LTC, Assisted Living, and agency work.

Desert and faithful have explained the reasoning very well already. And if you want to sue your school...um, go for it? Not sure what that was all about. :uhoh21:

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I didn't have to have a drug screening before starting school or before going to clinicals. However, we did sign a paper that explained that they (the powers that be at school) can randomly screen anyone in our program at anytime for drugs. Fine with me since the hardest drug I do is an occasional tylenol.

Just wanted to add that my sister-in-law was drug tested for a job she was getting. It came back that she had XYZ (can't remember what the drug was) in her system. She takes on routine med thats prescribed by her doc. When she called her doc and explained what the drug test "revealed" she was told by her doc that the prescribed med she takes can come up as the drug the screening said it was. All she had to do was provide a written statement from the prescribing doc what meds she was on. All was good and she got the job.

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People who don't do drugs, don't ask those kinds of questions! I don't think people should try to dodge the radar and especially if you are considering becoming a nurse or if you're already a nurse. How can you care for someone if you are under the influence of some type of illegal drug or whatever.

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How can you care for someone if you are under the influence of some type of illegal drug or whatever.

Or under the influence of any drug, to be more exact...since medical professionals have access to hard drugs (i.e. prescription medication) within a hands reach, lots of time that is what they use---and then "it doesn't seem so bad because it isn't a reaaaaal drug" not like crack/speed/cocaine etc. LOL...many a doctor or RN has been known to pilfer pills etc and be high as a freakin kite while working. CoWorker of mine just told me yesterday how an ex coworker at another hospital used to steal patients morphine and dilaudid as well...would sign it off as a PRN, then when the patient was of course STILL IN PAIN, he would demand that the MD order something for the pain. :nono::madface:

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Specializes in High Risk In Patient OB/GYN.
People who don't do drugs, don't ask those kinds of questions! I don't think people should try to dodge the radar and especially if you are considering becoming a nurse or if you're already a nurse. How can you care for someone if you are under the influence of some type of illegal drug or whatever.

No, you are wrong. There have been a few of us who are against routine drug testing that have already clarified that they do not do drugs.

I'm Ms. Organic, Natural blah blah blah. It takes a heck of a lot to get me to take a Tylenol or Motrin. I've got herbs up the wazoo in my medicine cabinet, but only 2 bottles of medicine (benadryl for my nightshiftworker insomnia, take it once in a while, and ibuprofen for rare times).

And I disagree strongly with pre-employment and random drug testing. (I'm also for the legalization of marijuana). Barring a fluke at the lab, my pee would be cleaner than a bottle of bleach. ;)

So please don't assume that anyone who's against it or asking questions is a drug addict or drug user. It's very frustrating to us.

And again, please go back to the 1st page or whatever of the thread. The OP admitted straight out to having smoked pot in the recent past, and stated quite clearly that he had no plans on continuing to smoke it. He's not a crack head or a vicodin popper for gods sake.:uhoh3:

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