Pre employment urine drug screen for nursing home, will they test for alcohol?

Specialties Geriatric

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This is my first RN job offer so I had no idea I would be drug tested when I went in that day to sign paperwork (I would not have drank at all had I have known this). I thought they would give me a 3 day heads up and send me to a lab corp. So my employment at this nursing home is contingent upon me passing a drug and background check.

The night before I drank about 10 or 11 beers, I probably went to sleep around 1am and the drug test was around 11am the next day.

Is this going to show up in the urine drug test? I'm a small person (5'8, 130 llbs) so I don't know if it had metabolized out of my system yet. I did feel a little buzzed that morning.

I'm freaking out, will they report me to the BON if alcohol shows up? :(

I wish they would've told me that I'd be taking a drug test when I went in to sign paperwork :(

I did read all of your post, and the piece that's jumping out at me is that you drank 10-11 beers in one event. YIKES! You felt "buzzed" when you went in to do your paperwork signing/drug screen? That speaks volumes, to me anyway....

I was still perfectly coherent. It's not like I was starting orientation that day. I was there for 10 minutes signing papers and taking that drug test. and like I said I wouldn't have drank had I known there was going to be a drug test

I've learned my lesson now but I don't know if it's too late

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I've had a zillion urine screens(agency/travel). I highly doubt any tested for ETOH.

It's a cost that they would not want to incur. Etoh is checked when you are injured on the job or suspected of drinking on the job.

On the off chance they did.... how high could your level be after 9 hours?? Could show a little alcohol, so you had a mimosa with breakfast that morning... IT'S LEGAL.

Try to relax ,keep us posted when that NOTHING happened.:cool:

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Specializes in LTC.

Why is everyone freaking out about drinking at a party.

Dear LORD, you should have SEEN the parties thrown when I was a medic in the Army. We'd be right back to work the next day, bright and early, ready for those lovely PT runs as well.

I don't think they'd really test, or bother with an alcohol test, unless your urine smells more like a shot of tequila than urea.

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Specializes in wound care.

lol wow , hey to each his own , but if they do ask you dont say 10-11 beer and you friends house , say two or three glasses of whine with close friends , sounds better, ohh and dont worry about the people calling you a addict they dont no you or your and tolerance , and just cause your a nurse doesnt mean you can dx people

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Did you get a receipt from the drug screening? I know when I did mine for multiple jobs that I got a slip back that said what they tested for.

Best of luck to you!

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Did you get a receipt from the drug screening? I know when I did mine for multiple jobs that I got a slip back that said what they tested for.

Best of luck to you!

no I didn't get anything. did they test for ETOH from yours?

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Thanks for the info.

I just want to know if it's standard or not to test for ETOH.

I think I screwed myself :( im so worried. It took me forever to find this job. Would they report it to the Board or just withdraw their offer? I can't have a ding on my license, i'll never get hired again

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Thanks for the info.

I just want to know if it's standard or not to test for ETOH.

I think I screwed myself :( im so worried. It took me forever to find this job. Would they report it to the Board or just withdraw their offer? I can't have a ding on my license, i'll never get hired again

Some do, some don't....read the articles...and just know that you can't fix what's done- just do it differently in the future ;)

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I can't guarantee that your pre-employment testing wouldn't include alcohol, but you have to ask yourself what purpose it would serve. You're of age. Alcohol is a legal substance. I don't even think they can use the test for alcohol content unless they specifically made it a condition of your employment. Prior to extending a job offer, they aren't entitled to any of your health information beyond the use of illegal or disallowed substances.

Even if they could legally test for it, the alcohol was probably out of your system by the time you went in.

Companies are trying to cut costs wherever they can, so they probably ordered a panel that focused on things like narcotics, amphetamines and benzos. ETOH testing would be only reasonable if you did something detrimental or appeared altered on the job.

You're going to hurt yourself if you go on like this. In fact, it could drive you to drink. :eek:

Seriously, take a deep breath, get some sleep, and enjoy the weekend. :up:

Let us know what happens.

P.S. What would they report to the BON? That you partook of a legal substance? That you were guilty of drinking and sleeping? It's time to chill and stop worrying yourself into a frazzle. You're going to be fine.

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If you went to an independent lab for this job call them and ask. Even if they did test for ETOH..if you stopped drinking before 1 a.m. (you went to sleep then) by 11 a.m. the level, even with the large amount of ETOH you drank would come down some..all depends on how your body reacts...that being said...anyone who can drink 10-11 beers...the body has to be use to that...so please,, think about, honestly, your drinking...people think because they only drink beer or on the weekends etc. that means they don't have a problem...wrong. Take care of yourself and your liver...when we lose our health it matters not how much money we have, how young we are etc. Being ill or chronically ill is not the way to live. Take care

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