How often do you get drug tested?

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How often are you drug tested in your program?

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Specializes in Utilization Management.

I was drug tested prior to starting my program and once during. They "randomly selected" all students who's last name began with a certain letter.

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Specializes in Psych.

We do not get drug tested as far as I know and our instructors have told us. That might change though, so the instructors have told us. When, I dont know.

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Specializes in Family Medicine.

In my two year program: once before beginning the program and another time at the half way mark.

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Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.

Random drug tests that have never been done. Ever.

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Don't do drugs and it won't matter.

If you are asking because someone else needs to be tested that you train with then talk to your advisor and I am sure they will have a test.

Sorry if this sounds blunt, but if you are afraid of a drug test you are going into the wrong profession. This is just sound advice directed at everyone who reads this thread.

Even the longest lasting drug that can remain in your system (THC from pot), is out in around 30 days. If you are get into a nursing course chances are you knew this was the field you were going into well before that.

Before I get flamed by any drug users there is no such thing as accidents when it comes to this topic. Many people have pasts that they can try to fix, but using is not an accident. Many people have made mistakes in their past, some pay some don't. This reply is directed at the present, not the past, as almost any drug test will show clean after just 30 or so days.

Just don't do drugs.

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Specializes in Oncology/Haemetology/HIV.

Why exactly should it matter?

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Our program doesn't drug test, but some of our clinical sites do. I'm in an accelerated program so our clinical sites change every 5-10 weeks.

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Specializes in Family Medicine.
Don't do drugs and it won't matter.

If you are asking because someone else needs to be tested that you train with then talk to your advisor and I am sure they will have a test.

Sorry if this sounds blunt, but if you are afraid of a drug test you are going into the wrong profession. This is just sound advice directed at everyone who reads this thread.

Even the longest lasting drug that can remain in your system (THC from pot), is out in around 30 days. If you are get into a nursing course chances are you knew this was the field you were going into well before that.

Before I get flamed by any drug users there is no such thing as accidents when it comes to this topic. Many people have pasts that they can try to fix, but using is not an accident. Many people have made mistakes in their past, some pay some don't. This reply is directed at the present, not the past, as almost any drug test will show clean after just 30 or so days.

Just don't do drugs.

I don't think its fair to jump to conclusions that the OP is asking about drug testing because they use drugs. You didn't even answer their question...

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I did answer the ops question "It doesn't matter" how often a program or agency drug tests. That is the best answer for his question, because there is no answer to it. The point of a random drug test is that its random and no one knows when the next will be.

I also stated that perhaps he was asking because maybe he thinks someone else does need to be tested and answered that possibility as well.

If the op doesn't want people to draw conclusions, he needs to be more clear, especially when asking a question that only has the broad answer I gave. Anyone that says my program tests only once or twice, is making an assumption. they are called "Random Drug Tests" for a reason. A program will test as often as it seems fit. I stand firmly behind my answer, if a program tests a hundred times, "If you don't do drugs, it doesn't matter."

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Specializes in Family Medicine.
I did answer the ops question "It doesn't matter" how often a program or agency drug tests. That is the best answer for his question, because there is no answer to it. The point of a random drug test is that its random and no one knows when the next will be.

I also stated that perhaps he was asking because maybe he thinks someone else does need to be tested and answered that possibility as well.

If the op doesn't want people to draw conclusions, he needs to be more clear, especially when asking a question that only has the broad answer I gave. Anyone that says my program tests only once or twice, is making an assumption. they are called "Random Drug Tests" for a reason. A program will test as often as it seems fit. I stand firmly behind my answer, if a program tests a hundred times, "If you don't do drugs, it doesn't matter."

I apologize if I came off kind of rude, accusing you of not answering the question and all. I guess your response kind of rubbed me the wrong way because I felt you jumped to assume they were asking the question because they used drugs.

There is no way to know the OP's motivation for asking the question (and I don't feel it is necessary to provide it) but there are so many possibilities (including the chance they are indeed a drug user). Perhaps the OP has trouble urinating under pressure and does not look forward to drug screenings for this reason (this actually happened to a friend of mine). Or, maybe, the OP takes a prescription medication that shows up in there urine upon drug testing and doesn't want to go through the hassle of getting it cleared through their MD. Maybe they don't want to pay the extra fees for the screen?

Bottomline, I felt the need to challenge your response because I felt you jumped to conclude the OP was the worst case scenario, a drug user. I just want to point out other possibilities. If the person had said, "I smoke pot three times a week, do you think my nursing program will drug test me and how often?" I would have had the same response that you had though.

Another thing: my program does not randomly test. It is routinely done (once at orientation and another time before third semester at the uniform sale). They can test if they are suspicious (like the program crazytmogirl mentioned) but this hasn't happened to anyone yet.

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The program I'm looking in to tests once at the beginning, and then any time they think it is required. If you come to school or clinicals high, or appearing to be high, they will require that you get tested. If you pass the whiz quiz, they pay for it. If you fail, you pay for it and then you are kicked out of the program.

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