Drug testing?

[Mike1974]

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.

[pharmgirl]

Princess.....the policy at my clinical site was "None....prescribed or not". Because that was the policy at my clinical site, it was adopted by my school since if you are unable to attend your clinicals you are unable to pass. With that being said, they are testing for narcotics, i.e. pain meds. Any other meds I believe will be OK. I was lucky enough to have gotten the email about the drug screen the day after my surgery and did not touch another pain med as much as I needed it. My surgeon was livid. I was so upset that there was a possiblity of failing a drug test I spoke to him about it and he said he would go to "the higher ups" if I was thrown out of school. Luckily, I didnt need him to.

The attitude of the hospital (the HR dept. head, the pharmacist, the Board....yes I spoke to them all) is that if you are positive, you are impaired. Just because something is prescribed doesn't mean it doesn't impair you. I do understand this statement however, exceptions and retesting should be done after a sufficient recovery time allowance.

Good Luck to you and I would find out your hospital and school policies before you take anything.......prescribed or not.

[bibibi]

My school requires drug test too. I guess its a hospital policy where you have your clinicals. I assume every hospital requires a background check and drug test.

[Fourhundred27]

It is really annoying how a lot of people are taking the time to post, "it doesn't matter to me I don't do illegal drugs" and other similar remarks. Who cares? Just answer the original question and stop using the forum to prove to the world that you are a precious angel. No one one wants your autobiography. It is a waste of space and a huge turn off.

[sarahmj]

WoW! Why even ask this question? If you have to ask it, then maybe you shouldn't be choosing the medical profession as your preferred job route. Like the previous poster said, if you try to time it right, you'll eventually get caught. I never even thought about it.

[Cooter5446]

If you're terminated from a nursing job due to a positive tox screen, you MAY be reported to the BORN as well. You will then be forced to decide between a 5-year non-disciplinary rehab program with license restrictions, voluntary license surrender, or worse. Best bet is to quit the dope, stick to whats legal, or face the consequences.

[Fourhundred27]

sarahmj - This person probably asked b/c they are on 'prescribed' anti depressants, pain medication or something that may cause them some worry. Just because you think it doesn't affect or concern you doesn't mean no one else should ask. But since many are straying from the original question, lets talk about another problem that alters the professional nurse: Over eaters! There are a lot of them in nursing and this is becoming a BIG issue. Overweight people tend to tire easily, bump into expensive equipment, suffer knee and back problems, serve as poor role models on good health, suffer depression and tend to call in sick a lot. So should nursing programs start busting out the scale?

sarahmj wrote, "WoW! Why even ask this question? If you have to ask it, then maybe you shouldn't be choosing the medical profession as your preferred job route. Like the previous poster said, if you try to time it right, you'll eventually get caught. I never even thought about it."

[Fourhundred27]

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.

This person probably asked b/c they are on 'prescribed' anti depressants, pain medication or something that may cause them some worry. Just because you think it doesn't affect or concern you doesn't mean no one else should ask. But since many are straying from the original question, lets talk about another problem that alters the professional nurse: Over eaters! There are a lot of them in nursing and this is becoming a BIG issue. Overweight people tend to tire easily, bump into expensive equipment, suffer knee and back problems, serve as poor role models on good health, suffer depression and tend to call in sick a lot. So should nursing programs start busting out the scale? How can you care for someone if you are having all of these ailments and issues?