Nicotine Test for new employment

Updated:   Published

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!

Ruas61 said:
I addressed that in the next post.

I was alluding to the fact that faking out a test with false urine might get you up and in front of the board.

I totally missed that..you are correct. It's easy to catch. They check the temperature and if it varies more than by so many degrees, it's considered an automatic fail. That's hard to do bringing it in.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
hls0810 said:
Anyone else with results to share?

i've never had to take one, but my fiance did for his former job. he tested negative; he's 5'6" and 300 lbs, and he quit a month before the test (not because of Big Brother's intrusive testing ********, but because he had made his birthday his quit-smoking date).

also a guy i worked with took one as part of a medical research study that he signed up for. he's 5'10"-ish and 160-170 lbs, and tested negative after two weeks smoke-free, but he also did quite a bit of physical activity- rode his bike to work and practiced aikido, so maybe that makes a difference.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
toomuchbaloney said:
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.

yes, thank you! i sometimes wonder why we fight so hard and sacrifice so much AND give up so many civil rights for mid-level jobs with mid-level wages that require a disturbing and perverse level of access to our bodies and our personal lives. Especially when you realize that the better ventures (higher paying, more prestigious, more autonomy) would never dream of asking for OR consenting to such "requirements".

I get that there are SOME extra considerations that may need to be made since most of us do work with impaired/vulnerable patients, but this is ridiculous.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×

What did you do to get nicotine free besides quit smoking?

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical care.

I heard even the cdc is suggesting not to test for THC anymore. Back to basics. A cigarette smoker can be the very best candidate but not even considered because of a positive test.

Excluding people for a massive BMI probably makes more sense.......... If most nurses weren't the size of a house.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Muser69 said:
I heard even the cdc is suggesting not to test for THC anymore.

I was not aware the CDC ever did "suggest" testing for nicotine; the CDC provides information on the many health risks associated with tobacco use, but it doesn't make recommendations about employment policies. Do you have any documentation of this?

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×

When your right to smoke interferes with my right to be healthy, it's a problem. If you choose to smoke knowing all the dangers that accompany the addiction, you have accepted loss of employment as yet another consequence. The short term "benefits" of smoking are outweighed by the risks. Same with obesity, if you have co-morbidities that would negatively impact co-workers and the cost of insuring you, again, risk vs reward. I am obese however I have no co-morbidities, take no meds, and am on a weight loss plan. It would suck to lose a job opportunity because of my bmi but I can't blame the company for doing what's in the best interest of its employees as well as its bottom line. It maybe a slippery slope (not being able to use my insurance to cover birth control), but fighting for your right to be unhealthy is not up there with fighting for your right to be protected from actual discrimination.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hi, I just found out I got a job at a hospital, I smoke my e-cig all the time and it has nicotine. Im a male, 30, weigh 150. I just got hired yesterday and found out about the nicotine test, and that I have to take it on Monday morning.... am I screwed? I called HR who hired me and told them my case, and they still want me to come in anyway... I feel like this is going to be pointless. The hospital is Missouri Baptist, in Missouri. Help... Ill gladly give an update on Monday what happens..

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Zebadiahstud said:
Hi, I just found out I got a job at a hospital, I smoke my e-cig all the time and it has nicotine. Im a male, 30, weigh 150. I just got hired yesterday and found out about the nicotine test, and that I have to take it on Monday morning.... am I screwed? I called HR who hired me and told them my case, and they still want me to come in anyway... I feel like this is going to be pointless. The hospital is Missouri Baptist, in Missouri. Help... Ill gladly give an update on Monday what happens..

Did you not see the statement for tobacco and nicotine on their employment page? I am sure the application had a lengthy section about this to which you agreed to with your signature. This shouldn't be a surprise. Given the information now available about e-cigs, the health risks shouldn't be a surprise either.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatrics Telemetry CCU ICU.
adubs923 said:
When your right to smoke interferes with my right to be healthy, it's a problem. If you choose to smoke knowing all the dangers that accompany the addiction, you have accepted loss of employment as yet another consequence. The short term "benefits" of smoking are outweighed by the risks. Same with obesity, if you have co-morbidities that would negatively impact co-workers and the cost of insuring you, again, risk vs reward. I am obese however I have no co-morbidities, take no meds, and am on a weight loss plan. It would suck to lose a job opportunity because of my bmi but I can't blame the company for doing what's in the best interest of its employees as well as its bottom line. It maybe a slippery slope (not being able to use my insurance to cover birth control), but fighting for your right to be unhealthy is not up there with fighting for your right to be protected from actual discrimination.

Well now, how about we let hospitals only hire people who look healthy and beautiful on the outside? You know, we can't blame them ( I am being sarcastic here). My father was always slim and had a healthy looking physique. He smoked for 20 years and then quit. He ate horribly, had high blood pressure, terrible Lipids etc. Yet he "looked" the part. He also could be on his feet many hours (he was a mailman for years). The man lived on pure denial.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion