Employment drug screen to include nicotine

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Is there a hospital in Dallas that refuses to hire nurses that test positive for nicotine? Im all for not smoking but as a term of employment?? Where will it stop? Elevated Cholesterol... Genetic screening... Its getting out of hand. Or is it just me?

Specializes in PICU, Sedation/Radiology, PACU.

There are several other threads on this exact topic. Here are some links:

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/job-offer-rescinded-584311.html

https://allnurses.com/nursing-issues-patient/nicotine-pre-employment-128393.html

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-student/no-nicotine-420378.html

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/drug-screen-now-533964.html

Please browse through these threads. I'm sure you will find all of the opinions you can stand. :) No use rehashing what's been hashed quite thoroughly the past few weeks.

Specializes in CMSRN.

In my opinion, Yes it is getting out of hand, it is not just you.

Specializes in Med Surg - Renal.
Is there a hospital in Dallas that refuses to hire nurses that test positive for nicotine? Im all for not smoking but as a term of employment?? Where will it stop? Elevated Cholesterol... Genetic screening... Its getting out of hand. Or is it just me?

It will never stop. Every single issue is a slippery slope that immediately and automatically proceeds to the WORST SITUATION EVER FOR EVERYONE.

Or so it is on allnurses.

Sheesh.

Specializes in ER/Ortho.

Baylor hospital system in Dallas/Fort Worth and I believe system wide will start testing in Jan 2012 and will no longer hire nicotine users.

apparently these hospitals don't think there is a high enough unemployment rate in this country. They sould start screening their HR, CEO and Nurse manangers for stupidity.

Is there a hospital in Dallas that refuses to hire nurses that test positive for nicotine? Im all for not smoking but as a term of employment?? Where will it stop? Elevated Cholesterol... Genetic screening... Its getting out of hand. Or is it just me?

It's just you.

An organization responsible for promoting and maintaining optimal health refuses to hire users of a highly addictive dangerous subsgtance responsible for the death of millions.

Why on earth is this controversial?

im sure your eating a double bacon cheeseburger as you read this. I wonder if they will fire me for speeding a little on the way to work when im on call. Does your family have a history of cvd or diabetes?? ur next as we promote health. Do u wear sunblock? skin cancer is a health risk. Are ur tires properly inflated? health risk... just saying. And ur right.. the company has obligations but where do they draw the line?

and when u find ur self working all alone dont whine. Those of us in the real world will be working somewhere that understands the real world... just me

and did i mention those of us who wear corrective lenses... or walk with a limp or do not have a daily BM? all reasons that an employer could refuse to hire a good nurse. Forgive me for posting the question

Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU.
Is there a hospital in Dallas that refuses to hire nurses that test positive for nicotine? Im all for not smoking but as a term of employment?? Where will it stop? Elevated Cholesterol... Genetic screening... Its getting out of hand. Or is it just me?

It's not just nurses.

Specializes in ER.

Imo, it is NOT getting out of hand. As someone mentioned earlier, nicotine is addictive and smoking is responsible for millions of deaths. Here's a couple of thing to look at, when u smoke ur not just hurting yourself, but everyone around you breathing the same air. You shouldn't get to make that decision for other ppl. Next, no smoker I know can make it through a 12 hour shift without a smoke break. Hospitals are businesses and they are not gonna pay you to go outside all the time to slowly kill urself.

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