random drug tests?

Silverdragon102, BSN · Jul 16, 2008

Moved to the general nursing forum for more responses

I do not think it is a scare tactic.

lovablelvn · Jul 16, 2008

Not a scare tactic~ My friend, who is a CNA in a hospital, was pulled along with 5 other for random drug test. Tested positive for marijuana. She had to take one-on-one councling and group therapy/rehab for 4 months (at the hospitals expense) Next time suspension for a month w/o pay then of course being fired.

That was 5 yrs ago and no more positive drug test!

feebebe23 · Jul 16, 2008

At my hospital you get drug tested after any employee injury including exposures. I understand the importance of random drug testing and don't personally have a problem with this.

However, a few years ago had a coworker who didn't report a needle stick because she had taken one of her spouses zanex (the night before) after her car had been broken into.

Think about it......

EricJRN, MSN, RN · Jul 16, 2008

Mine does not perform random tests, but does test upon hiring or after an injury/needlestick.

maire, ASN, RN · Jul 16, 2008

I'm unsure if I'm in the right place.
Does anyone experience random drug tests at their hospitals? I know some places say they random test but is it just a scare tactic? If you have or have not please explain your experiences, thank you!

We just recently had a discussion about this at work. AFAIK my facility does not test when hiring nor are there random tests performed during employment. I recently had a needlestick and I wasn't tested then, either. I find this rather odd.

carrienurse · Jul 16, 2008

Maybe I didn't mean a scare tactic since most hospitals seen to random at one point during employment. I wonder if it's the smaller hospitals that don't have the random screening. Does anyone know if these randoms are usually urine or have there been saliva as well.

Editorial Team / Admin · Jul 16, 2008

I've seen both in large and small facilities; urine and saliva.

mianders, RN · Jul 16, 2008

Our hospital does pre-employment and for cause drug screens. The only time I have seen them do for cause was if a staff member seemed impaired and once when a staff member in the ER went to administration stating that staff were selling drugs in the parking lot. Several staff members were tested and fired during this time. I have never seen them test for an injury.

embarrasingfield · Jul 16, 2008

I believe they are just a heads-up to not do illicit drugs, as your job will be in jeopardy if you test positive. I don't think facilities ever do anything truely randoom without a reason, but its within the law for them to do it randomly, and that protects them from being sued by an employment attorney if you come up negative and they were testing you based on hearsay.

For me, I've never worried about it, since the rare times I've ever had anything in my bloodstream, it was prescribed.

RN1989 · Jul 16, 2008

I'm still trying to figure out why the OP seems so worried about this.

sissiesmama, ASN, RN · Jul 17, 2008

I believe they are just a heads-up to not do illicit drugs, as your job will be in jeopardy if you test positive. I don't think facilities ever do anything truely randoom without a reason, but its within the law for them to do it randomly, and that protects them from being sued by an employment attorney if you come up negative and they were testing you based on hearsay.
For me, I've never worried about it, since the rare times I've ever had anything in my bloodstream, it was prescribed.

Well, The facilities where I have worked in the past, Monday thru Friday, the computer spits out 4 set of numbers, each one is the last 4 digits of employees social security numbers. The "chosen ones" are given until the end of their shift to produce a specimen or they will be disiplined.

Anne, RNC :paw::paw::paw: :saint: