pre-employment

Published

This has probably been asked already but here goes. i am transferring to another hospital. i will also be required to take a urine drug test which includes nicotine. the drugs im noy worried about. I quit smoking for good 4 weeks ago and have not smoked anything since. my question is this: will i be on the clear when it comes time to pass the nicotine portion. i used to smoke 6 to 7 cigs. sometimes less and sometimes not at all per day. i tried out a cotinine test kit which read negative. also does anyone know how sensative the testing procedures for urine actually are? thank you

Specializes in NICU/Mother-Baby/Peds/Mgmt.

They did this at Memorial Hermann in 2013 (Houston) when I got a job there. Even after I said I didn't smoke they told me the story of the NICU intern whose internship was cancelled because she was positive.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

it all worked out. as it was i am employed another facility within tue same group so i was grandfathered in.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
On 8/11/2019 at 6:55 AM, kbrn2002 said:

You should be fine but I am sorry this kind of nanny state makes my blood boil. Last I heard smoking cigarettes wasn't illegal, at least not yet. While I get that employers can exclude hiring on the base of tobacco use, or should I say nicotine use since nowadays so may people are getting their nicotine through vaping doesn't mean I think they should.

I don't see anything wrong with the practice. My facility, before an all-out ban, attempted the "no smoking during work hours" rule. I'll be happy to tell you how that worked out.

Employees would leave the floor and sit in their cars and get all stunk up with cigarette smoke and then come back smelling to high heaven with smoke on their scrubs to aggravate the allergies and respiratory conditions of patients and non-smoking employees. Smokers...truly don't understand how much the stench carries.

After that didn't work, they went to an all-out ban because too many couldn't follow the rules. They start warning them in the colleges around here even before they apply to the nursing program....if you smoke, better quit now.

4
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

Yep, this is one I am absolutely okay with. The habit of smoking has health impacts that reach far beyond just the smoker themselves. As far as I am concerned cigarettes should be illegal for that reason.

I am glad it all worked out for the OP. It is common practice in DFW to screen for nicotine. Some won't hire, some just charge an extra $150 per month for health insurance if you test positive. You get the chance to test again and go through a program to help you quit.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×

At the facility where I just got hired in CA- stated in their homepage that they do not hire anyone who tests positive for nicotine. I had never heard of this, and think it's slightly ridiculous, but I am not a smoker so it doesn't affect me.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Geriatrics, Dialysis.

I started a new job recently. No testing for nicotine. There is an insurance premium rate increase for smokers but they are not requiring a test to prove you don't use nicotine products.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion