Nicotine pre- employment testing

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  1. Pre-employment nicotine test

    • 0
      Do you object?
    • 1
      Why?
    • 0
      Have you had direct experience with this?
    • 0
      What happened?
    • 3
      Would you apply to a facility with a similar policy?

4 members have participated

Has anyone had either a negative or positive experience with nicotine/ Cotinine level testing when receiving an offer from St. Luke's in KC?

Are there other KC area hospitals that require this now as a condition of employment if anyone knows? Just curious- is this a good thing or no, in orher's opinions?

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

It seems like you don't understand how the poll feature works. You're supposed to ask a question and then provide different answers, and we choose one of the answers.

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You have to quit smoking for 3 weeks before any testing. After that, chief away.

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Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).

Ok you can't answer the poll format but here's my answers.

Nicotine testing is pretty much standard in California so weather I object or not makes no difference. I don't smoke so it's no big deal to me.

I have had direct experience but as I said I don't smoke, vape or use tobacco products so it's no big deal.

Nothing happened because I didn't test positive for nicotine.

Yes I would apply again as I don't smoke so have nothing to worry about.

Hppy

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Actually cotinine testing goes back three months:

While nicotine generally leaves the system within a few days after cessation, both nicotine and cotinine can be detected in hair follicles for up to 3 months on average, but can also be detectable for up to one year in heavy smokers.

An Overview of Nicotine Testing for Employment | White Cloud

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You're right, I obviously goofed. Now I know. Thanks.

Regarding the other answers, interesting. The method of testing has to be taken into account, so while 3 weeks may be accurate for some methods.... anyway, we will see. It's interesrung to me that it's not for insurance purposes but rather for employment. I wonder what is next? My gene makeup? BMI? If I have the CA gene? Just thoughts. Thanks.

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Please disregard poll- I did not do correctly. First time! í ½í¸Š Now I know!

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Specializes in Critical care.

I've worked for 2 different health systems and both test for nicotine.

It really makes no difference to me as I do not and have not ever used any type of tobacco products.

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Two of the big systems in my area have stopped doing it. Apparently it wasn't worth the $$ to test everyone just to find a few positives. I am a former smoker and worked for one of the systems when they did nicotine test you. They still hired you if it was positive, you just paid more for your insurance. I felt like that was fair.

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Here are the facts for anyone who is faced with my situation. There is a lot of misinformation out there.

1) Tyoe of test - Cotinine a) Urine B) Blood C) Cheek swab

I passed my test 6 days after my last smoke. Method: cheek swab

Cotinine half-life - this is the science behind it.

3 weeks is NOT accurate nor is 3 Months for a cheek swab!

So know if faced with this situation, get the facts. Don't rely on someone saying " 3... " anything without getting the science/ rationale behind. It was a very difficult situation with serious consequences and I felt like solid info was hard to find.

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See below

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Specializes in Case manager, float pool, and more.

As far as smoking goes, it not illegal so the only reason I see for testing is related to insurance. But sheesh, spending alot of $$$$ for testing does not make sense to me but hey, I don't smoke anymore so not a big deal for me.

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