Drug Testing

mattsmom81 · Jun 1, 2004

Several hospitals that I have worked for required an RPR.
I do not even want to know the reason behind that one.

Not too many years ago a RPR was done on everybody it seems. New employees, and all patients admitted to the hospitals in my area. I'd bet the 'reasoning' was to control STD's, but in reality gotta wonder how many people were stigmatized and hurt with this information.

purplemania, BSN, RN · Jun 1, 2004

Each time I started a new job and once as a result of random drug testing. We have a policy that if an employee is involved in an accident or exposure during work hours a drug test is required. I know of two people who were fired due to positive drug screen, but I don't know the particulars.

talaxandra · Jun 2, 2004

your point a) decreased expenditure on police, courts and jails, and b) legal drugs undercut organised crime profits are two reasons that the Govt. won't legalize.

I don't understand why these are reasons against legalisation - every government everywhere is aware of how much money the legal system costs, particularly for minor-league drug offences, and the Three-strikes law has just compunded an already significant problem.

At the same time trying to police and monitor organised crime is an on-going, difficult and expensive issue, so surely the government doesn't want to aid organised crime.

This isn't a dig at you, CCU NRS, BTW. Maybe it's because I'm on nights, or maybe it's not my fogginess, it's the government's!

I appreciate that legalisation would make the whole War on Drugs look like a farce, but it's not exactly been a strategy on overwhelming effectiveness so far.

As Professional nurses all wanting to further the nursing profession you should support Random Drug testing help keep the drug impaired nurses out of patient care Do you want some nurse under the influence of Fentanyl or hydrocodone giving you your meds or treatments, I certainly dont.

Misuse and appropriation of licit drugs doesn't seem to be a huge problem, at least in my experience. I'm not denying that it happens - of course it does - but it's hardly an endemic issue. As a union rep in a large tertiary hospital, I've been involved with disciplinary proceedings, and there haven't been that many, even before we started logging schedule 11 drugs (benzos, Panadeine Forte...). As for schedule 8 drugs (opiates, amohetamines etc), that's very rare indeed.

Yet you have a systemic testing system, which affects every nurse and costs her/him money, and what sounds like a potentially Draconian penalty (see https://allnurses.com/forums/showthread.php?t=67987). This all sounds to me like the drug-impaired nurse is more likely to move on, leave nursing, be at risk, than seek help.

I don't think that random drug testing is a mark of professionalism. As I posted earlier, drug testing isn't the norm in Aus, and I don't know how it works in the US. Are docs tested also? What about other professionals with access to meds, like pharmacists?

Don't get me wrong, I'm not advocating narcotic diversion or use, and I think that post-treatment drug impaired nurses ought to be monitored for a period of time after they return to work. However this blanket testing of nurses strikes me as invasive and unwarranted.

Does anyone know if it's an effective policy for reducing nursing drug misuse? Also, why do students need to be tested? Surely they're not allowed to administer any drug to a patient without being supervised.

CCU NRS · Jun 2, 2004

I don't understand why these are reasons against legalisation - every government everywhere is aware of how much money the legal system costs, particularly for minor-league drug offences, and the Three-strikes law has just compunded an already significant problem.
At the same time trying to police and monitor organised crime is an on-going, difficult and expensive issue, so surely the government doesn't want to aid organised crime.
This isn't a dig at you, CCU NRS, BTW. Maybe it's because I'm on nights, or maybe it's not my fogginess, it's the government's!

I just think that Police Agencies and Govt. Make a lot of money from the process as it is currently set up. I also beleive it would naive to believe that some Police and govt. officials (not all)recieve payoffs to look the other way and let drugs into the country or there would be much less ever reaching the streets of USA

Groovydogg · Jun 3, 2004

I do not believe that drug testing is an unreasonable invasion of privacy considering the consequences that are possible. I fully support random drug testing for many professions including nursing. Impaired nurses (pilots, surgeons, bus drivers, truck drivers, etc.) kill people and anyone who fights to protect the "privacy" of these dregs share in the blame of all they kill. Most unions (nursing and otherwise) are guilty of facilitating this death toll by opposing drug testing. If you want a job where drug taking is tolerated become an athlete or rock star.

StreetRN · Jun 4, 2004

Pre-employment testing is mandatory at our hospital. Also, random tests are regularly performed. And anyone involved in a driving accident while on duty is automatically tested. It's just the way it is. My thought is....if you dont' do illegal substances, you don't have to worry...if you take legit prescription meds and advise of same, you still don't have anything to worry about.

shel_wny · Jun 4, 2004

HAHA!

I am now being trained to be a CNA at a LTC and they don't drug test - nurses, CNAs, or anyone! Amazing. I actually kinda like it. I feel trusted and I feel like everything begins with honesty and dignity. Usually it's the very opposite. Guilty till proven innocent.

Shel

StreetRN · Jun 4, 2004

Amen, brother. :-D Actually I fully agree. I would not want some pot head taking care of me or my family. It's easy enough to make a mistake sober, much less stoned. I've worked with nurses who had nasty habits and stole drugs from sick patients to meet their own sick needs. Drug testing is a must because you cannot depend on people to be honest and forthright. Most druggies will swear they perform "normally" and that their drug habit doesn't affect their ability to perform...just ask any drunk arrested for DUI....some of us need to take off those rose colored glasses and face the real world.

I do not believe that drug testing is an unreasonable invasion of privacy considering the consequences that are possible. I fully support random drug testing for many professions including nursing. Impaired nurses (pilots, surgeons, bus drivers, truck drivers, etc.) kill people and anyone who fights to protect the "privacy" of these dregs share in the blame of all they kill. Most unions (nursing and otherwise) are guilty of facilitating this death toll by opposing drug testing. If you want a job where drug taking is tolerated become an athlete or rock star.

Tm777 · Jul 21, 2011

Pre-employment testing is mandatory at our hospital. Also, random tests are regularly performed. And anyone involved in a driving accident while on duty is automatically tested. It's just the way it is. My thought is....if you dont' do illegal substances, you don't have to worry...if you take legit prescription meds and advise of same, you still don't have anything to worry about.

I am a new lpn grad and I was just recently diagnosed with lupus and primary biliary cirrhosis. I was prescribed 25mg Fentanyl for pain, I worry that I will not be hired d/t being under the influence of an opiate. Im trying to ween myself off and hopefully get on something as needed if my body will allow. Does anyone have insight regarding thus issue? Thank you!