Nicotine Test for new employment

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Has any smoker had to take a nicotine/cotinine test for pre employment? If yes please post how much you smoked, body size, how long you quit before the test, and if you passed or not.

There have been lots of questions and not to much follow up for answers. Since a lot of hospitals are making nicotine test a part of the job screening process... this can be helpful.

thank you!

Female age 32 at testing. Tested for continine. Light smoker, smoked maybe 1/2 pack a day if that. I got a home test and checked myself prior to the employment screen. Three days and it was out of my urine. I passed. Weight 130lbs, 5'6. In reasonably good shape.

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1fastRN said:
Agreed, I just didn't know if there was some other logic behind it. Maybe they should start testing for big macs because some of my co workers diets... oh lawd! Haha

Texas hospital bans obese workers? | HLNtv.com

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It is right to employ who the hospital sees as best candidate. Hospital and SNF systems are going to control cost of benefits by hiring healthy non smokers. Airlines have weight requirements for safety. Hospitals can do it for "healthy image and role models"

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Specializes in ICU.

Some hospitals here in Florida advertise that they test applicants for nicotine prior to hire, and again 6 months later. (My insurance rep claims it can be detected for 6 weeks, but I don't know if she is right or not.)

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Billy_Ruben said:
Female age 32 at testing. Tested for continine. Light smoker, smoked maybe 1/2 pack a day if that. I got a home test and checked myself prior to the employment screen. Three days and it was out of my urine. I passed. Weight 130lbs, 5'6. In reasonably good shape.

Thanks Billy! This is exactly what I was looking for! You always see threads of people that are asking but never anyone that states they passed or failed. So this question comes up with uncertain answers a lot.

When my friend takes her test I'll post her results too!

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I quit last July but march 2013 I had to take a nicotine test that I passed. I had smoked for 10 years, was smoking about 10 cigs a day. I didn't smoke that day and drank water. At the time I was 5'7 and 180 lbs (lost 40 lbs after I quit). My job screened for insurance purposes though, they still hired you if you were a smoker with the understanding you wouldn't smoke on company property.

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ShillaBSN said:
I think we can expect this more and more. Testing for smokers is overt; this just adds to the drug tests and background checks already being done. There are other items some employers are using to weed out potential candidates not so overt like overweight or age.

I am waiting for the fall out of the states that just legalized pot....if there is not already a test for this there soon will be.

There are two simple tests being perfected- one is a roll on type sensor that can be rubbed on your forearm, and other is a strip that can be rubbed along your cheek- both to register THC or cannaboids, and soon both will be used at road stops to arrest people for drug DUI. Some employees even in CO have already been fired for testing positive. And some states already have a zero level amount of cannboids that can get you a drug DUI even if you aren't impaired. As far as nictine, places that test in hire also test at intervals- some of them because their helth insurance premiums increase if they hire smokers.

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Specializes in LTC.

Wow I must be extremely out of the loop here. I've never heard of nicotine testing at any job...I'm not a smoker but still that's crazy to me. I can understand not being allowed to bring nicotine products on the property but still...wow.

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Anyone else with results to share?

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Waiting to hear.......did your friend take her test yet????? Results ????

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Nicotine and cotinine free after 2 weeks.

Pack a day smoker

Drank water

Took vitamin c

Tested negative

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.

As a people we are becoming very complacent about our rights, aren't we?

We no longer bat an eye about this sort of class bias. Do we really consent to these searches of our person or are we in a position where we have no choice if we want to be employed?

I have a friend who just secured a high position in the financial sector. There was no urine screen for marijuana and no discussion of nicotine.

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