Urine Drugscreens without pt's permission?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

These are always ordered on suspicious pts, and I'm curious if that is the case everywhere? Isn't there a privacy issue here. Certain things we need to get permission for, such as an HIV test, which I don't understand. What other tests do we need permission for?

Just to add something, when I get a urine drug screen, I always just ask for a urine sample, it's always hush hush, I've never announced to the pt that I need the sample for a drug screen.

Specializes in ER, NICU, NSY and some other stuff.

Our UDS screens did not have chain of custody but our mec screens did.

for what reasons would someone object to a drug screen? in the case of a needle stick, isn't the only information sought that which the nurse would need to protect themselves? and aren't the results confidential? joe

If it is for the betterment of that pt. it isn't required to get permission. If durgs may influence a decision about the care of that pt it's ok. If the pt is there for an employee injury and it is required by their employer the pt must be notified and papers signed.

Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

IL does NOT require consent for HIV testing if it involves any needle-stick or blood exposure.

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