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.

I feel just because someone has tested negative for illegal drugs one or how ever many times doesn't mean they are "drug free" If that was the case there would be no need for random drug testing.

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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:

I agree.:lol2:

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Specializes in High Risk In Patient OB/GYN.

I'm against drug testing for a number of reasons (I don't think it's anyones business if Nurse X took a vicodin last night for her bad back, for example). Me being afraid of getting nabbed is not one of them. I never said I was against drug testing when there was probably cause (missing meds, an employee acting impaired, etc). I think with revamping, I could possibly support some forms of drug testing. Just not the way they're done now.

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Specializes in CNA, RN Student.

Sometimes people's opinions on whether or not they support or don't support a controversial issue is not due to direct personal issues

If I may point out....

I would like to imagine a world where there would be millions of dollars saved for the future of our children, for healthcare and education, social security....a future with less crime-the legalization of marijuana (for example purposes) could (I didn't say "will" to avoid bias debate here...) provide that. And it doesn't mean that all the people who vote "yes" are users, it means that they see the debate from a completely different perspective than those who vote "no" i.e. the opposing party.

This is a nursing forum, which I think it would be safe to say that people on here are or are going to be nurses. As nurses we cannot place that kind of blame or judgment on people, beginning with our peers and especially with our family.

Think of our future patients.....we can't point a finger on a 19 year old single mom addicted to crystal meth coming in for her 5th abortion in her 23rd week, we can't point a finger on the patient who was breaking into a home and got shot by the owner. There will be so may things that we don't agree on and would love to point our finger at...but we can't and we should start practicing that right here.

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I worked with a nurse for six years in a Home Health Agency. This woman was a great nurse, caring, skilled, her patients loved her. She always presented herself well, was professional, no problem with excessive absenteeism. We were all subject to random drug tests.

Her name got drawn for testing and she resigned. She admitted to those of us she was close to that she had smoked some pot on the week-end before and was afraid to take the test knowing she would fail, she thought it better to resign than be turned in to the licensing board.

Administration was absolutely shocked that this woman would have smoked pot. There was never any indication in her work habits, personal appearance, or professionalism that she had a "drug problem".

We lost a great nurse that day and she lost a job that she loved. She admitted she was stupid, she knew they did random testing but she said it was an isolated incident and didn't happen anywhere around working hours.

How was this productive for the agency or for the nurse?:confused:

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Specializes in Surgery.

That Nurse didnt have a 'DRUG' problem she used marijuana. People that use marijuana arent nessisarily 'using drugs' in my opinion. I really cant understand why people are so anti marijuana. I think things are changing. Most people I talk to about marijuana say they would smoke it if it was legal. random drug screen only catch marijuana users because it stays in the system so long it doesnt mean they are stoned.

I wish the reefer madness would stop and start looking at the real mind altering drugs users that take SSRI's and the like. I would rather a nurse taking care of me be an evening pot smoker than a drinker or a SSRI user. I dont want anyone taking care of anyone under the influence.

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:yeahthat:

I couldn't agree with you more. I tell you I've done some crazy partying in my short 23 years. Pot, unlike alcohol, has never made me sleep with someone I regretted, crash my car, treat my family and friends like sh*t, etc. (Only a few reasons I quit drinking!!)

Pot has, when not used in excess, helped me go to sleep, gotten rid of my nausea, helped me eat when I was nauseous (Although it may have been potato chips.. lol), and has helped me relax on an extra stressful day.

I have also known very confident and knowledgeable nurses who toke on occasion. As long as they are not high for work hours (the same way being drunk wouldn't be tolerated during work hours) who gives a flying crap? I am so tired of the "holier than though" attitudes on here.

I don't do drugs. So I have nothing to worry about. Just quit, they say. Well why don't you just quit having that glass or two of wine with dinner then? Sounds fair to me.

Just so tired of generally law abiding, dedicated, hard working citizens getting picked up because they smoke pot instead of drink. Something needs to change.

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My director told me to bring all prescriptions and turn them in at the time of testing. Some people don't understand that even if you are prescribed and the meds are legal some schools require you to come off them. This seems really wrong considering it is a prescribed med from your doctor. I would rather know someone is healthy and doing ok rather than forced off meds and taking care of me....

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Specializes in Hospice.

Haha maybe that "fog" you speak of was the dope!

No I agree this job and your future in Nursing is WAYYYY to important to lose it for maryjane!

My parents divorced over it and so did I. Drugs are just really not cool. Plus you want tolead by example. Good luck Mike. BTW a nice glass of wine will work wonders at relaxing you after a hard day!

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 Hospice.

I accidentally thanked this, however I could not disagree more. I have known people who wrecked their cars, destroyed their families and couldn't hold down a job because they were too busy getting high.

Legal is legal. Illegal is Illegal. If you want to smoke it move to Amsterdam. You can lose your liscense over this. Not to mention catch a nice case of lung cancer. Get a massage if you want to relax. My glass of wine is legal, BTW.

Now however I do think if we could police it, make sure it isnt used while driving and tax it maybe it would be better, but it's not.

Not to mention terrorist networks use drug money for funding......so I would hate to promote that. Unless of course ya grow your own!

This subject is about as contraversial as religion huh? :twocents:

:yeahthat:

I couldn't agree with you more. I tell you I've done some crazy partying in my short 23 years. Pot, unlike alcohol, has never made me sleep with someone I regretted, crash my car, treat my family and friends like sh*t, etc. (Only a few reasons I quit drinking!!)

Pot has, when not used in excess, helped me go to sleep, gotten rid of my nausea, helped me eat when I was nauseous (Although it may have been potato chips.. lol), and has helped me relax on an extra stressful day.

I have also known very confident and knowledgeable nurses who toke on occasion. As long as they are not high for work hours (the same way being drunk wouldn't be tolerated during work hours) who gives a flying crap? I am so tired of the "holier than though" attitudes on here.

I don't do drugs. So I have nothing to worry about. Just quit, they say. Well why don't you just quit having that glass or two of wine with dinner then? Sounds fair to me.

Just so tired of generally law abiding, dedicated, hard working citizens getting picked up because they smoke pot instead of drink. Something needs to change.

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Specializes in Hospice.

You give a very good point of veiw, Thank you.

Sometimes people's opinions on whether or not they support or don't support a controversial issue is not due to direct personal issues

If I may point out....

I would like to imagine a world where there would be millions of dollars saved for the future of our children, for healthcare and education, social security....a future with less crime-the legalization of marijuana (for example purposes) could (I didn't say "will" to avoid bias debate here...) provide that. And it doesn't mean that all the people who vote "yes" are users, it means that they see the debate from a completely different perspective than those who vote "no" i.e. the opposing party.

This is a nursing forum, which I think it would be safe to say that people on here are or are going to be nurses. As nurses we cannot place that kind of blame or judgment on people, beginning with our peers and especially with our family.

Think of our future patients.....we can't point a finger on a 19 year old single mom addicted to crystal meth coming in for her 5th abortion in her 23rd week, we can't point a finger on the patient who was breaking into a home and got shot by the owner. There will be so may things that we don't agree on and would love to point our finger at...but we can't and we should start practicing that right here.

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Not to mention terrorist networks use drug money for funding......so I would hate to promote that. Unless of course ya grow your own!

The only reason that terrorists are even able to get drug money is because it is illegal. It's the criminalization of things that creates the criminals. For instance, if prostitution were legal pimps would lose all their power. I don't take drugs and have never wanted to, but I firmly believe that people should be allowed to make decisions about their own bodies.

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