Nicotine Test

[NurseDianne]

I'm not sure if this has been brought up or not and I'm curious if other hospitals do this........

There is a hospital in South Georgia that if you are a new hire they do a test, blood, to see if you have nicotine in your system. If you do they will not hire you and offer for you to come back and re-test in 30 days.

My husband smokes and he works there as an agency nurse, wehen we are between assignments, so is by-passed.

Anyone know if any other hospitals do this?

If so, how is this legal. I understand smoke-free facilities and policies, but as far as I know smoking is not illegal.

Let me hear you take on this.

Nurse Dianne:typing

[BEDPAN76]

Don't mean to get too far off topic, BUT, in a few years it will probably be too dangerous to have a glass of wine before applying for a job. Yes, alcohol does show up in these urine screens. And yes, alcohol is legal. Before you know it, antidepressants will be no-nos. The bottom line, IMHO is the privacy issue (or lack of).......

[Neveranurseagain, RN]

Except, of course, that marijuana possession and use is a crime, and smoking cigarettes is not. So, you could say that, but it'd be ridiculous, so you probably shouldn't.

In CA, medical marijuana is legal when an RX is written by an MD. However, even with a MD RX if it shows up in your pre employment drug screen, you will not get hired. So it is not a CRIME, yet people are discriminated against when using a legal RX!

[Bortaz, MSN, RN]

In CA, medical marijuana is legal when an RX is written by an MD. However, even with a MD RX if it shows up in your pre employment drug screen, you will not get hired. So it is not a CRIME, yet people are discriminated against when using a legal RX!

Actually, it's a federal crime, regardless of what laws CA has passed.

[Atheos]

In CA, medical marijuana is legal when an RX is written by an MD. However, even with a MD RX if it shows up in your pre employment drug screen, you will not get hired. So it is not a CRIME, yet people are discriminated against when using a legal RX!

Nope medical marijuana is illegal...

Federal law TRUMPS state law.

CA = legal

Federal = illegal

YOU CRIMINAL!!!!!!!

:chuckle:chuckle:chuckle

[Riseupandnurse]

I would like to go back to what another poster said. Is it just nurses who are targeted for these screens, or is it maintenance, dietary, secretaries, etc.? Because that says what the motive is and the rationale.

[Atheos]

I would like to go back to what another poster said. Is it just nurses who are targeted for these screens, or is it maintenance, dietary, secretaries, etc.? Because that says what the motive is and the rationale.

For it to be legal they have to test everyone.

[Neveranurseagain, RN]

I am a STAUNCH non smoker-- but I want people to smoke. If everyone quit, many of us would be unemployed. But I do feel that testing for nicotine is crossing the line. What you do at home with something that is legal is your own business.

[lpnflorida]

I am embarrassed to say I still smoke, yup have tried quiting with no long term success. I have watch the rights of smokers go down the tube. In some regards I agree with no smoking around children. Do not smoke around non smokers. I am appalled that they would test for nicotine. Do I understand it from an insurance stand point. Of course, and I have read the many reports about how smokers are sick more often from work. I am not sure that it isn't a biased report.

Thinking of the people I personally know who smoke and some of us are getting up there in age, we are sick less often from work than our co-workers with small children. God knows when my child first started school , her father and I had more flu and colds than at any other time previous or since .

That is not to say I do not acknowledge the long term ill effects of smoking on our health and the medical costs that can ensue.

I made a statement years ago, when all the focus came onto smokers." next thing you know this so called big brother mentality will go after people who are over weight."

Yes, that is happening also in regards to employers enforcing weight loss as a rule for maintaining your job. Example police departments.

God, help us with this watch dog society we now live in where is everyone feels it their right to impose their stand onto others.