Nicotine Drug Testing in the Texas Medical Center

Emergent, RN · Jan 31, 2019

This is the new Puritanism. Society must have those to ostracize.

Jory, MSN, APRN, CNM · Jan 31, 2019

I agree with the testing. People that smoke are grossly unaware of how the smell carries with them when they come back inside. This in turn impacts those with allergies or other illnesses, especially respiratory problems.

The other reason they have went to testing is because even if they have it banned from hospital grounds, people still go outside to smoke.

allnurses Guide · Jan 31, 2019

I don't know about that particular hospital. Why not just call them and ask?

Golden_RN, MSN · Jan 31, 2019

I did not even know this was a thing! Do all employees also maintain a healthy body weight, abstain from alcohol, etc etc? (sarcasm)

https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Hospitals-turn-away-applicants-who-smoke-3988931.php

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · Jan 31, 2019

Assume you will be tested. There are various testing methods. Four days nicotine free would be minimal. There are more specific tests. If you want the job.. quit smoking.

Best wishes.

BarrelOfMonkeys, BSN, RN · Feb 1, 2019

I know several facilities that have done this (I’m NOT in TX) for years. Several offer healthcare bonuses (extra $ incentives) for managed weight, BP, etc. and still other facilities that allow smoking will charge employees an annual fee (I *think* last I saw in some forms it was only a few hundred dollars) for doing so. Obviously every facility is different and the hiring practices and employment stipulations vary widely. If I were you I’d just assume all will check. ??‍♂️

KariMac · Feb 1, 2019

I know for a fact Methodist does. I'm fairly certain Memorail Hermann does as well. Not sure about St. Luke's or TCH. Good luck!

kakamegamama · Feb 1, 2019

I can remember.....walking into the nurses' station on the postpartum unit and breathing second hand smoke from nurses who smoked at the nurses' station. I can remember.....itchy, watery, and swollen eyes, sneezing uncontrollably, and going home smelling like cigarettes because I had to spend too much time at said nurses' station for whatever reason. For people like me who get sick just smelling the stuff, I'm glad that hospitals are restricting the use of cigarettes in their employees.

pluckyduck, MSN, NP · Feb 3, 2019

All the major medical systems in southeastern Michigan are tobacco free and employees are subject to urine drug testing as a condition of their hire. If there’s nicotine present, they won’t be hired. If they drug test you at random, and they find nicotine, they’ll fire you on the spot. It doesn’t deter people from smoking though. *shrug*

MA8675309 · Feb 5, 2019

I ask because I live where I am exposed to second-hand smoke, and from what I understand about nicotine testing, they don’t care how you’re exposed to it, just that you are. I’ve heard second-hand smoke levels can be high enough to flag the test a positive.

Bbtj · Mar 9, 2019

On 2/4/2019 at 7:20 PM, MA8675309 said:
I ask because I live where I am exposed to second-hand smoke, and from what I understand about nicotine testing, they don’t care how you’re exposed to it, just that you are. I’ve heard second-hand smoke levels can be high enough to flag the test a positive.

That’s not true and nicotine isn’t usually what they look for since it stays in your system for only a few days the by product continine is what they test for which can stay in a heavy smoker system a few weeks or months. 2nd hand smoke can only produce trace amounts in your system so small that it wouldn’t be flagged in a urine or blood test. 2nd hand smoke is still the worst but being exposed to it won’t make you pop positive on a test, testers know this and wouldn't let it be used as an excuse