Nurses Aides & Drug Testing

[Omxilyomx]

Hi all! So I am a nursing student and I work in a hospital as a Nurse Extern, but my scope of practice is that of a Nursing Assistant, so I am mainly considered a PCT (Patient Care Tech) as I do not have any licensure or certification.

I was wondering what the typical policies and procedures are for drug testing of Nurses Aides? I took (and obviously passed lol) a pre-employment drug screening, however there was no mention in my orientation or employee handbook as to whether or not I would be subject to random drug screens. I've checked the policies and procedures listed for the hospital as well and have turned up nothing.

My main concern is that I have an EXTREMELY bad back, and there have been times when the pain is so excruciating that I need to go to the ER to get it under control. So I've been prescribed Percocet as a one time perscriprion following one such episode- I was hoping to save as many as possible to use in the future for when it gets bad again, but I doubt that if I take one and test positive for narcotics months from now, that saving pills from an old perscriprion to use later will be a viable excuse... I also ON VERY RARE OCCASIONS used to smoke marijuana prior to entering nursing school, and may like to do so here and there before I graduate (not risking anything after graduation.. I'm working too hard for this license to lose it over something silly!)

So my main question is:

In your experience, have unlicensed/uncertified aide's with no access to patient medications been subjected to random drug testing in your facility? Or for any reason (randomly, after a pt fall/incident, in the case of employee injury or incident) If a narcotic count is off, are aides included in the staff who is tested even if they have no access to the narcotics?

Any info, words of wisdom, or experiences you'd like to share are greatly appreciated:)

[Pangea Reunited, ASN, RN]

Yes, you can be tested ...by your employer, the school or even the clinical site.

[mindofmidwifery, ADN]

Why don't you disclose your medication use to your program? And stop smoking marijuana

[jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B]

Pot can stay in your system, depending on how much one uses, for some time. If you have a prescription for narcotics, you can disclose that. HOWEVER, I would be clear on your school and your work policies regarding testing.

All of that information is usually found in your various handbooks.

[sallyrnrrt, ADN, RN]

Please type in the search window, near top of AN menus, two searches

consequence of taking legally prescribed pain meds

and, Testing positive for pot

[Karou]

Everyone else has given good advice. Wanted to warn you also, that you can be randomly drug tested during nursing school. Especially if you have an injury or make an error at a clinical site.

[amoLucia]

Staff can be randomly tested if they exhibit behavior that the employer sees as unusual or suspicious. Say, while working you were to take one of your percs and became sleepy, someone could believe you to be a risk to yourself, others or the environment. Or you go out to your car for all your breaks and meals. Someone wonders why so often? So yes, you could be tested as it could be felt that the pts could be injured by you, you could injure yourself and/or you could damage equip.

Failure to allow testing would prob most likely result in your termination. And that would start the whole cascade of problems with unemployment.

And re marijuana - NOBODY ever figures they're going to get caught!!! If you were to slip & fall on a puddle of urine in a pt bathroom, you most likely will be tested. Admin won't care that you tell them your last smoke was at a New Years Eve party. Positive is positive.

So your continued educational path and healthcare career endeavors will be scrutinized and judged, NEGATIVELY. Drug use by healthcare workers IS NOT given any slack.

It is a legally-influenced society that we live in. When it comes down to protecting themselves or you, who do you think will come out protected? Your employer/school or you?

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

Drug diversion is not the only trigger for a drug screen. There are a number of things that could result in a drug screen. In most organizations, follow up and treatment for any on-the-job injury or accident includes a drug screen. Some types of incident reports will require n employee a drug screen. Some types of observed behavior will trigger a drug screen.

Bottom line. Don't try to be shady - the truth is a much easier option.