Employment Drug Test Questions

tyvin, BSN, RN · Jun 25, 2011

The lab does not ask for a list; you wait until they call you after it comes up positive and then give them your docs number to confirm Rxs. If everything is valid the test goes back to the employer as a negative. You have privacy rights and the employer is not given a list of meds unless it was Rxs that couldn't be varified or street drugs which in such a case the test would have been sent as a positive to the employer.

I know a person who sued a drug testing company for revealing the meds to the employer when they had valid Rxs for them. If your meds are legal then the result from the testing company must be sent to the empolyer as a negative. Only when it's illegal can the testing company reveal the drugs to the employer. Know your rights.

Whispera, MSN, RN · Jun 25, 2011

When I've had drug tests, they have always asked what prescription medications I take, and I take the bottles with me to show them.

The test evaluator will know what metabolizes into what, and prescribed medications should not be a problem.

The test center/evaluator is not allowed to tell anyone what medications you take. They will only report if you are positive or negative on the test.

tyvin, BSN, RN · Jun 25, 2011

Each state is different and it probably would be a good idea to take your meds in just in case the above post applies.

4_Sq · Jun 25, 2011

This is a complete shock to this Canadian Nurse... Do you really have to go through drug testing pre employment.. unbelievable.. I think this is a complete infringement on your human rights!!! :madface: :twocents:

Whispera, MSN, RN · Jun 25, 2011

Not just on employment. Where I've worked there are random drug testings throughout the year...

4_Sq · Jun 25, 2011

Wow, I could see it if you were impaired and disciplined during employment, but without a history.. never.. as far as I know, would they ever do this pre employment here.. Only if you had some previous restrictions on your nursing registration.

What an expense.. really.. if someone is using, I think they would be very creative pre employment anyway..

Sounds like a waste of time & money to me.

tyvin, BSN, RN · Jun 25, 2011

This is the result of the war of drugs. The casualties are the people looking for jobs and assumed to be drug addicts. I said it 20 years ago when they first started this stuff "It's only going to get worse!" and to boot after the initial drug testing they can randomly pick out people and drug test you on the job. It's insane.

Many lives have been ruined as well from false positves (yes people it happens) and other things. It's crazy. People who work in the labs make mistakes too.

flashpoint · Jun 25, 2011

A lot of employers in the USA do pre-employment drug screening...even for jobs like a cashier in a discount store or someone who works in fast food.

The LTC I used to work for did pre-emplyoment testing...it was a matter of peeing in a cup and lines showed up to indicate a positive or negative test. If tests were positive, the candidate was either told that they were not eligible for employment or they were given the opportunity to have additional testing at their expense. If they tested positive for something they had a prescription for, there was no problem.

We had two people test positive for THC and both were simply escorted to the door. Other than that, no one ever failed a test pre-employment. Everyone in the facility had to do a random test annually. The administrator pulled a random name once or twice a week and that employee had 24 hours to report for their test (unless they were out of town something...then they got re-circulated and pulled later). If they tested positive that they did not have a prescription for, they were given the opportunity to justify it or prove a false positive through further testing or they were terminated.

We also pulled people for testing if we had reason to suspect they were using.

Trenia · Jun 25, 2011

This is a complete shock to this Canadian Nurse... Do you really have to go through drug testing pre employment.. unbelievable.. I think this is a complete infringement on your human rights!!!

Yeah! They should stop doing criminal background checks as well. They should also not be allowed to run your license number to see if you are actually registered. I don't think it would be a gigantic risk to your patients and current employer.

IdrilRN, BSN, RN · Jun 25, 2011

I had to do a pre employment drug test for the first time for a new job. I think it is good, it can help weed out the potential future diverters. I've worked with too many of them. Yes, I am aware of the creative ways people can "beat" the test.

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · Jun 25, 2011

It's dependent on your area. I had to do one for school and my new job I just got.

For my new job the hospital has their own facilities to do the drug screens and blood titers and all that so I would imagine the medications you list the hospital will know. I am on wellbutrin and have a PRN percocet prescription I am prescribed monthly. To avoid any problems I made sure I didn't take any of the percocet the week prior to my screening so it wouldn't be in my system even though I listed it on the meds when asked and I have a valid Rx for it. I was honesty about my Fibro and back issues and they just made me come and have a physical.

Anyway, for my school one we had to go to an independent company, the company asked for any prescriptions and proof of them. They only tell the school whether we passed or not. If you had an opiate for example in your system and had a valid prescription for it. You passed and the school was told you passed.