Random drug tests in nursing school?!

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Just out of pure curiosity how many of you have underwent a random drug test during your program? Do these happen a lot? Or only when a student is being suspicious? I'm aware of the annual drug screening but not the random ones. Any insight please!!

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Random ones are better, since you can't prepare for them by abstaining ahead of a known date. Many programs (not just nursing, but also employment settings) that require drug screens make them random for this reason.

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Specializes in Oncology, Critical Care.

We had ours set up by the school, and we were informed the day before. I do know one student who was drug tested because she exhibited suspicious activities to the instructor. She was found to be on pain killers due to a leg problem (glad they screened her!)

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Totally random. They showed up at our class last night actually.

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

I had none at all during school and only one test before starting my job 6 years ago.

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I had none at all during school and only one test before starting my job 6 years ago.

We have one as part of our preemployment physical, random if thy feel it is warranted, or of we get injured on the job.

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None. I have never had a drug test for a job or for school.

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I have to take one in July before school starts. Once we start in the fall, I don't know what will happen. I think random are best. I have heard of people going through extreme measures to not get caught.

One acquaintance I know who is a CNA somehow purchased clean urine online to take to her drug test so she would have no traces of marijuana in her system. Completely ridiculous.

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I had a pre-nursing student ask me this in the hallway last semester. My answer: "umm, don't do drugs and you won't have to worry about it"

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

I would check with your program for not all programs require them.

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Specializes in Pedi.
I had a pre-nursing student ask me this in the hallway last semester. My answer: "umm, don't do drugs and you won't have to worry about it"

YES! This! If you have nothing to hide, why would random drug testing be anything to worry about?

I've never been drug tested in nursing school nor in any nursing job I've ever had but it is certainly well within the rights of a school or an employer to request a student or an employee to submit to one.

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YES! This! If you have nothing to hide, why would random drug testing be anything to worry about?

I've never been drug tested in nursing school nor in any nursing job I've ever had but it is certainly well within the rights of a school or an employer to request a student or an employee to submit to one.

Took the words right out of my mouth!

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