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!!

Specializes in Emergency, ICU.
I would prefer to see a functional/cognitive/behavioral examination upon probable cause of impairment rather than a random drug test. But I suppose that's just silly libertarianism.

Totally agree, but you just wait, we're going to be labeled as "addicts" just for thinking logically ;)

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I'm not really trying to "say" anything. Merely highlighting the obvious inconsistency in your post.

If you're not doing anything wrong, there's no reason to worry. Anything else suggests there is in fact something to hide.

You are presenting a false dichotomy. There is nothing inconsistent in saying, articulate your suspicions or don't treat me like a suspect.

I guess we'll just have to agree to occupy opposing poles of the authoritarian spectrum.

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You are presenting a false dichotomy. There is nothing inconsistent in saying, articulate your suspicions or don't treat me like a suspect.

I guess we'll just have to agree to occupy opposing poles of the authoritarian spectrum.

What dichotomy? It is a logically flawed argument that says that a person in a place of authority and control over the lives of others should not be held to higher standards themselves. It is also suspicious if nothing else that a professional would not willingly agree to drug testing--if nothing more than to prove a point.

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Specializes in family practice and school nursing.

Been an RN since 1983. The only drug test I ever had was for a part time job I picked up for extra Christmas money at Target!

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A professional should expect to be treated as such. I swore an oath and I take it seriously.

Would you also be ok with your car and house and person being routinely randomly searched, because sometimes people steal supplies?

Note that I am speaking ideally. I still take my shoes off at the airport, i acknowledge that I've probably red-flagged myself with half the alphabet worth of government agencies with these posts, and I'll still pass every stupid random drug test I may have to take. My point is that no one should be subject to searches or scrutiny without probable cause or an articulable suspicion. It is an affront to his dignity and professionalism to do so.

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Specializes in School Nursing.
That says about all you need to say.

Actually, I don't understand this either--

Why is it when someone questions themselves being searched, which is a constitutional right to do, the reaction is "well, if you have nothing to hide!"? We give up a little more of our rights every day. Would you be okay with random searches of your car? If you have nothing to hide-- right?

I don't see drug testing different from any other search or seizure.

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Specializes in School Nursing.
Or rationalization from a drug user....

Wow! Someone has a different opinion and they're a drug user? lol

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I've never done any illegal drugs and I still don't like the idea of a drug test. I mean, sure, "I have nothing to hide," but I don't really want people or the government all up in my business. I'm not too much into conspiracy theories, but I often wonder if we should be as trusting as we are. Maybe they are just testing for illegal substances now, but what if they decide to test for other things later?

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Actually, I don't understand this either--

Why is it when someone questions themselves being searched, which is a constitutional right to do, the reaction is "well, if you have nothing to hide!"? We give up a little more of our rights every day. Would you be okay with random searches of your car? If you have nothing to hide-- right?

I don't see drug testing different from any other search or seizure.

You're right--I have nothing to hide. If you would like to search my car and have probable cause, go for it. Same goes for my house.

The difference is that in nursing and medicine as well, you take on a very unique type of responsibility for the lives of other people. While that isn't to say that driving and owning a home aren't responsibilities, it isn't reasonable to search the car and home of everyone in the country randomly, nor is it legal.

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This thread is just an example of liberty vs authority and individuals' preference for one over the other. I'll never be convinced that suspicion-less drug tests aren't a degrading insult, and I suspect many posters in this thread will never understand why - and thus the tests will continue.

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This thread is just an example of liberty vs authority and individuals' preference for one over the other. I'll never be convinced that suspicion-less drug tests aren't a degrading insult, and I suspect many posters in this thread will never understand why - and thus the tests will continue.

You're right. I hope that for the good of our patients, a reasonable number of us will always fail to understand "why".

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