Employment drug screening

[VampireBaby, LPN]

In everyones experience have you ever worked at a place for nursing where there was no drug screening upon hire or random screens?

[CalicoKitty, BSN, MSN, RN]

I've had drug screens upon hire for jobs. I've had drug screens when taking nursing courses with clinical time. I've never had a random drug screen, but I believe they are always an option.

[Jory, MSN, APRN, CNM]

You'll be hard pressed to find a place that doesn't drug test. You may find some independent physician's office, but that's about it.

[Horseshoe, BSN, RN]

Even in places without random drug screens, most places will do drug tests if you ever have a patient who is injured while under your watch, if YOU are injured on the job, if there is a discrepancy in the narc count while you are working your shift, or if your coworkers suspect you are impaired.

Why are you looking to avoid places that do drug screens?

[VampireBaby, LPN]

Im not lol! This is how it works here and I was wondering if that was normal.... I didn't think so but just seeing everyone's responses.

[Horseshoe, BSN, RN]

My hospital didn't do random drug screens. But one day I hurt my back while bending over a patient's bed drawing blood (poor body mechanics on my part). I could barely walk to the nurse's station. My boss sent me home, but she had to refer me to employee health first. They immediately did a drug screen on me. It was negative because I don't take illegal drugs or prescription drugs not prescribed for me.

You just never know when you could be asked to submit a sample, even in the absence of a policy which requires random drug screening of employees.

[FolksBtrippin, BSN, RN]

I work for a non profit community based mental health agency and they did not do a drug screen upon hire.

[NurseBlaq]

A few places didn't do pre-employment drug screens but I always assume you can be tested at any time. Just don't do drugs, and if you have scheduled drugs be sure you have a prescription for them or your physician can attest to prescribing them for you.

[cayenne06, MSN, CNM]

I always got tested for a new job as a nurse. But so far I've never been asked to test as an APRN. Not sure if that is a common experience.

I've never worked at a place with random screens, but you never know when there might be a narc discrepency, or an injury/accident/error- all of these typically result in on-the-spot testing.