how long until nicotine and byproducts are flushed from your system?

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in LDRP.

Hello. I am a nursing student trying to get a job at the hospital that my school is affiliated with as a tech, but they do a pre employment drug/nicotine screening. Im not worried about the illegal drugs part, but I quit smoking cigarettes 3 weeks ago in hopes that I will be able to get a job there, but I am worried. Ive read different things, some say that it can be out of your system in 3 days, some say 30+. Anyone know for sure? Is it stored in fat cells? Any info would be great.

And please, no lecturing me about smoking, I QUIT finally okay? lol. :yeah:

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Congratulations on quitting!! I don't have an answer to your question, but I'm just shocked that they test for nicotine! Are their employees not allowed to be smokers?

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.
Congratulations on quitting!! I don't have an answer to your question, but I'm just shocked that they test for nicotine! Are their employees not allowed to be smokers?

It's not all that uncommon any more for hospitals to require employees to be nonsmokers.

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Specializes in pediatric critical care.
Congratulations on quitting!! I don't have an answer to your question, but I'm just shocked that they test for nicotine! Are their employees not allowed to be smokers?

Every hospital I know of around here won't hire you if you are a smoker, and they test you before hiring.

OP, congrats on quitting, I wish I could give you more info on how long it takes for it to clear your system, but stuff I've read seems to show positive changes in your body very soon after you quit, so hopefully it clears quickly for you!

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Specializes in LDRP.
Congratulations on quitting!! I don't have an answer to your question, but I'm just shocked that they test for nicotine! Are their employees not allowed to be smokers?

yes they are the only hospital in the area as of now that tests for nicotine, and if you get caught smoking on campus, or in across the street while in uniform you can be fined. however, they did not test for nicotine to get into their school of nursing... i found that odd.

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"Nicotine is a short-acting drug that is eliminated from the body relatively quickly (i.e., within a day or so). However, the effects of acute nicotine withdrawal can be felt for as much as two weeks or more. In addition, the byproducts of nicotine can be detected in the blood for up to a month after you stop smoking. This is only of concern if you are in a situation where someone else might want to test you for the presence of nicotine or nicotine byproducts in your system."

http://www.selfhelpmagazine.com/article/node/1123

Hope that helps! Good luck!

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the good news

  • nicotine is quickly metabolized by the body and quickly eliminated. within 2 to 3 days after quitting smoking, your body will have cleansed itself of both the nicotine and the nicotine byproducts that were drenching your system. there are some variations in how quickly the liver cleans the blood, but nicotine isn't a drug that becomes part of your general bodily makeup for the long term. unlike such contaminants as heavy metals, you aren't stuck with residual nicotine for years to come.


http://www.ehow.com/how-does_5243019_long-nicotine-out-body_.html

so do they test for nicotine? what if you are on the patch or using other methods for quiting that involve nicotine...it seems unfair that if you are in the process of quitting, that they wouldn't be more supportive.

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HAHA...we posted the same thing.

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HAHA...we posted the same thing.

Not really... Mine says that it will show up in a test :(

How about being upfront and let them know that you quit smoking 3 weeks ago??

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The Good News

So do they test for nicotine? What if you are on the patch or using other methods for quiting that involve nicotine...it seems unfair that if you are in the process of quitting, that they wouldn't be more supportive.

They probably aren't more supportive because most smokers have quit numerous times- or have no plans of quitting at all. Nicotine is one of the most addictive substances known, and it's very difficult to quit, even when people want to. Which most don't.

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Hmmmm...I'm torn about this issue. I really do hate smoking and have supported my boyfriend throughout the quitting process..which was quite painful, but why do they target smoking only...what about Alcohol...McDonald's...Sugar? I know plenty of healthcare professionals who abuse these things as well...but are they an acceptable unhealthy habit? Are they going to start requiring their healthcare professionals to have a healthy BMI? Is a three day drunken bender ok but an occasional cigarette grounds for termination?

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Because second hand smoke kills. If you eat McDonalds, you are hurting yourself and yourself only. When you smoke, others are able to breathe the smoke as well.

You are allow to drink alcohol during your own time, but if you are an alcoholic and need alcohol 24/7 then, you probably won't get the job.

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