Drug Testing At Hospitals

Trauma Columnist · Jul 15, 2006

Not silly at all. I was also in the Navy and I can remember even doing drug test when I was pregnant -lol. However, as an RN, I have done one drug test (pre-employment physical) once in the 14 years I've been a nurse. However, your employer can do random drug tests for cause - if you are acting strange, if you have med errors, if there is a reason. Good luck in school.

sister--* · Jul 16, 2006

In my facility 2 names are drawn out of a hat each month for random testing. Well, mine was drawn several yrs. ago.

I have to tell you I certainly didn't like the experience....wash you hands, don't touch, don't flush, don't do this, don't do that, sign this, seal this.....and the color of the toilet water was out of this world! A neighboring hospital lab does the actual testing.

Hope my name isn't drawn ever again. It was humiliating! Yet, we do a lot of them for employers in the area as well as for law enforcement.

ern91 · Jul 16, 2006

i guess since healthcare has become so corporatized, drug testing for nurses is becoming passe. i dont have a problem being tested for a job , i guess because i am not an impaired nurse. i have seen several colleagues enter the tpapn proram because they were found out...finally. not as a result of testing before employment,however, but because they were caught on the job . drug testing is here to stay,like it or not.

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Jul 16, 2006

sister--* said:
In my facility 2 names are drawn out of a hat each month for random testing. Well, mine was drawn several yrs. ago.
I have to tell you I certainly didn't like the experience....wash you hands, don't touch, don't flush, don't do this, don't do that, sign this, seal this.....and the color of the toilet water was out of this world! A neighboring hospital lab does the actual testing.

I am a traveler. And every time I change assignments, I am generally drug tested. Which means usually I have to find the anonymous facility (different each time as the testing is done while I am in the city of my current assignment in preparation for the next). If I have not driven there, I must find some form of transport to get me there. Then, in many cases, I have to wait til they call my name.

My favorite was when I had to wait two hours for them to call me. I had peed out and redrunk enough waiting room water, that the specimen came back dilute and I had to do it all over again.

steelydanfan · Jul 16, 2006

I have had drug testing for employment done at the current hospital I work at, howerver they don't seem to do random tests, I assume they would if you were under suspicion.

At my last job, they initiated random tests; a coworker was asked to take one when a "substitute" manager was on site. No reason was given, the "substitute" could not prove her authority for ordering the test; other than "X said you had to". The employee refused, and was summarily fired.

It's a strange world.

dorimar, BSN, RN · Jul 16, 2006

um.... They drug test to work at circkle K. I would hope they drug test everyone who has access to controlled substances on a daily basis, and who is responsible for life and death situations. you'd be surprised what people are capable of these days. In my last place of employment, i know if they acutally took advantage of their policy for randomized drug testing, many people would be in the "Can Do" program. I can't believe any place would not do a Pre-hire drug screen now days.

P_RN, ADN, RN · Jul 16, 2006

I've never been asked. Showing my age I guess.

dorimar, BSN, RN · Jul 16, 2006

Why would one refuse a drug test? hmm....

KellNY, RN · Jul 16, 2006

dorimar said:
Why would one refuse a drug test? hmm....

Excuse me, but maybe they're taking legally prescribed drugs that they are uncomfortable with their employer knowing about.

Maybe they take a Xanax before bed every once in a while because they get anxiety attacks after working a full unit. Maybe they have a bad back from lifting too many patients without enough staff to assist and were prescribed Percocet or Norco. And you know what--that's no one elses business, really.

(I'm also of the apparently unpopular mindset that if a nurse smokes MJ occasionally on her days off, that is also no one elses business--as long as it's not affecting her job performance, but that's beside the point)

FTR, I don't take/do anything at this point in my life that would show up on any drug screen, but I would be opposed to taking one. (probably not opposed enough that I'd lose my job for it, LOL, but opposed enough that if I were to choose between being employed at a hospital that does drug testing vs. one that doesn't--all other areas equal--I'd go to the non drug testing facility)

dorimar, BSN, RN · Jul 16, 2006

If it is a legally prescribed drug, you are given the opportunity to declare this before the drug test. I do think it is appropriate for a work place to know if the nurses take benzo's or opiates outside of work even if it is legally prescribed (in case this were to filter into work and alter their performance). Also marijuana is illegal, period. If it were legal it would be a whole new discussion.

jerseyboy · Jul 16, 2006

Dorimar asks, "why would one refuse a drug test....hmmmmm"

Thomas Jefferson is spinning in his grave as we speak!

Here is a reason one would refuse a drug test:

http://www.aclufl.org/issues/privacy/drug_testing.cfm