Drug Testing

BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN · Aug 5, 2015

Well how nice of you to play games here!!

Of course my career is more important. I just love getting the reactions of some of these people. However, I do wonder if Colorado nurses can smoke or still face hospital policy. If you're not doing it on the job...

shpatterson · Aug 5, 2015

I think....as long as you have a current (not expired) prescription for the prescription drug you test positive for you are okay. I tested positive for several prescription drugs that had been legal prescribed to me by my physician. I was being tested because I was entering my Nursing Program and due to being in the clinical setting of hospitals we had to be drug tested. After testing positive I was notified by someone from the drug testing place and they ask for the name and phone number of my pharmacy. They called the pharmacy and the pharmacist verified that I was indeed prescribed these drugs so I was all good and you will be too if you have current prescription from your doctor that have been recently filled at your pharmacy. Drug tests are nerve rcking but necessary I guess. Hope this helps a little. Good luck to you! Have a blessed day!

studentnurse9806 · Aug 5, 2015

The short answer is yes. You can't be impaired. Policies vary as do state regulations. My employer's policy is that if you provide a valid prescription to the contracted lab performing the testing, then that test is reported as clean. If there is a suspicion that you're impaired on the job, other issues come in to play. Your personal health records are private and this organization and state respects that, but your ability to practice safely is tantamount. Marijuana is not provided with the same protection whether prescribed or not. My understanding is that this is an issue stemming from federal marijuana laws.

Ok thanks makes sense.

canigraduate · Aug 6, 2015

OMG. Do y'all not look stuff up before you come on here?

Jeez.

1) Marijuana use and possession is still illegal per federal law.

2) Even in Colorado, employers can have stipulations about working there such as no tobacco, no marijuana, no alcohol, no whatever, as a condition of employment and that is perfectly legal. Even if an employee sues the previous employer for wrongful termination due to a drug screen, as long as the employer has their policy in writing (which includes an online handbook), they're screwed.

3) Yes, I think it is very fair that employers be able to test all of their employees to make sure they are following company policy. Just like chart audits, random drug screens are perfectly legit. If you violate the terms of employment, you definitely deserve to get fired.

4) If you don't want to work for someone who has a drug policy, move to Colorado and work for the weed store. Seriously, it's pretty stupid to get all wrought up over something that you signed up for. If you don't agree with a certain business's drug policy, DON'T WORK THERE.

5) Legal prescriptions are OK as long as you are not impaired at work. Let's say, for example, you are on narcotics for post-op pain. Sure, you can take them for the pain, but if you are impaired and unable to perform your job competently and safely, then you need to not go to work. For example, my brother was involved in an accident at one of his jobs and he had been taking pain medication that was prescribed to him after breaking a leg in a car accident. It was company policy that everyone involved had to do a drug screen. He was fired. Fair, in a cosmic sense? No. Legal and fair to the company? Yes.

DeeAngel · Aug 6, 2015

Weed can show up on tests even several weeks later is my understanding. If you smoke it and get drug tested and caught you will beat yourself to death over it. It's just not worth it, if you want to get buzzed stick with alcohol and don't drive.

klone, MSN, RN · Aug 6, 2015

Of course my career is more important. I just love getting the reactions of some of these people. However, I do wonder if Colorado nurses can smoke or still face hospital policy. If you're not doing it on the job...

No, we cannot. The state supreme court recently ruled that any employer can terminate an employee who tests positive, even if they're not impaired on the job.

Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN · Aug 6, 2015

So can you take prescription meds such as opiates and benzos and still work as nurse???

As long as you have a valid Rx and you're not under the influence at work. Recreational use of benzos/opiates--analogous to recreational marijuana use--is never okay with the BON or employers.

level1 · Aug 7, 2015

Is a nursing career for you? If you can't give you're all to your pts. and risk patient safety by some sort of alternative behavior/disobedience, then working in a place where people are sick may not be for you. You have to be pretty alert and wholehearted to be a nurse as far as the patients being satisfied. I pass medication and I would not even think of doing a drug diversion, or participate in an alternative lifestyle where I put my job on the line. Should a drug test be taken and the BON notified, they would take you by the ear and throw you out with what I've read.

Engaging in any behavior off the job, given that you've got a decent time frame (10-12hrs) prior to start of shift, is totally acceptable. As long as you are 100% mentally there, you can give your best to care for your patients while on duty. I would never go out drinking all night, catch 3-4 hrs, and then start a 12hr shift all hungover and sleep deprived. I work in the ER and boy can I tell you how important it is to be A&Ox3 with a GCS of 15. I'm not supplementing nursing with a wild alternative lifestyle, I was just curious to hear from others in the field.

When you really think about what is at the core of this thread, it boils down to: Is this person competent? Is this person cognitively alert? Honestly, if I ever had to undergo any type of procedure, I would easy choose a surgeon with the greatest success rate (with the smoking, drinking, cowboy lifestyle) over an average surgeon (with the church-going, tight whitey, everything by the book mindset).

Know your ****, bring your A game, and have fun!

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · Aug 13, 2015

What if the hospital were to not allow their employees to drink alcohol? In my opinion, a much worse substance than marijuana. At what point does it become a violation of a person's rights to forbid something that is legal to do in the first place? I would think as long as you're not drunk or high on duty and you're a competent safe employee, what business is it of theirs?

One would think, but try telling that to the employer. When we are on the clock, we are owned. If something we do off the clock.. becomes an issue ON the clock, we are screwed.

Pretty sure the issue of violation of a person's rights has been tried before.

I am off to Google that!

Horseshoe, BSN, RN · Aug 13, 2015

Engaging in any behavior off the job, given that you've got a decent time frame (10-12hrs) prior to start of shift, is totally acceptable.

Gee, that sounds just SUPER! Except it's patently false, depending on your employer.

Exactly! I can't believe that one comment about the hospital banning smoking for its employees. I really hate how organizations are telling people how to live their lives off the clock. At work, I uphold my responsibility to demonstrate professionalism and advocacy for a healthy lifestyle, but when I'm at home doing my own thing no one tells me what to do. (except my girl, I guess) I don't smoke, but I can't even begin to imagine if people started telling me that I couldn't enjoy my craft beer.

BTW, as to your post above, your employer cannot interfere with any of your "rights," meaning that they cannot prevent you from drinking your beer , smoking, or smoking weed in a state where it is legal. They have no power to prevent you from exercising those rights. But they CAN refuse to hire you or they can fire you if those things are against stated company policy. They have been challenged on these things and have won. YOU have the right to not work for any employer who screens their job candidates for smoking cigs or weed or any other habit.

windsurfer8, BSN, RN · Aug 15, 2015

Your point is "pointless". If they TEST for it at work then and they say if you are positive you will be fired then you will be fired. Alcohol is legal..however if you show up to work intoxicated you can be fired. Your subjective view that alcohol is "worse" means absolutely nothing. This is not an argument over one being better than the other. A hospital can when they hire you tell you that if you test positive for marijuana AT WORK they can fire you. Forget your "Assumptions" and stick with facts.

edmia, BSN, RN · Aug 16, 2015

The point of these discussions is that things are changing. Eventually, the laws will change as well and employers will adjust. For now, know your drug half lives really well if you're going to engage in anything that is still against company policy.

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