Labs

[lvnmom]

When you go in to the Er for whatever reason do they automatically do a drug screen?

I just wondered b/c alot of people are addicted to and take alot of precriptions and what if they weren't tested and they had already taken something at home and we OD them????????????????What circimstances do you think might cause them to order this?

[ERNurse752, RN]

It has been my experience that drug screens are not automatically ordered for every pt in the ER.

We do order them for pts who are acting impaired, who come in unresponsive, when requested by law enforcement, or when there is some other actual reason.

I don't think it would be too likely to OD someone who was A/O without respiratory depression and actively having pain.

[hoolahan, ASN, RN]

My family have been regulars in the ER's lately, me for kidney stone, last year for sprained wrists, hubby for prostatitis and urinary retention, F-I-L, multiple reasons, took a friend to the ER who has chronic back pain, for severe burns, she takes 40 mg oxycontin bid and she didn't get a drug screen.

I think there has to be some kind of valid reason for getting one. It's too expensive for hospitals to run these tests w/o a reason.

[deespoohbear]

We do drug screens on pts when requested by law enforcement, unexplained unconsciousness, workman's comp (if their company requires), and certain situations. We do not order a drug screen on every pt who comes through the ER. That would be a waste.

[kids]

Also, some ERs' do it if the person comes in on a trauma call.

-nancy