Resignation in lieu of drug test? Is random testing the answer?

[Emergent, RN]

Recently, a nurse resigned instead of submitting to a drug test. The nurse was under suspicion for diverting. What do you think? Should a refusal and resignation be considered an admission of guilt and reported to the BON? Shouldn't a nurse, who is responsible for people's lives, live under the same rules as drivers?

A friend of mine used to be a DNS of a small hospital and had to deal with a woman who called hundreds of scripts for narcotics in order to divert before they caught her. The woman's own husband died of a narcotic OD. Not only did my friend insist on a drug test, but she tried very hard to get the government to bring criminal charges. She said it was very difficult to get that to happen, although the gal did get sanctioned by the BON, finally.

The union representing my hospital fights very hard each contract to forbid random drug testing. They give up on PTO accrual rates, and other stuff, but dig their heels in on random testing. Personally, I feel like random testing is the best deterrent, as obnoxious as it would be to have to submit to one.

Are we not doing enough to avoid and deter drug use in our profession, allowing problems to grow until they cause harm? Are drug using nurses often being allowed to quietly resign and move on to the next job? Waiting for a person develop an addiction is like waiting for a major accident to put in a stop sign on a busy corner.

Thoughts?

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

Nurse who was suspected of diverting and refused a drug screen is already addicted.

Random drug testing is an invasion of privacy, I applaud your union.

I can see how passionate you feel about this, but let the BON and administration do their job.

Her refusal will not make anything go away.

[NICU Guy, BSN, RN]

Nurse who was suspected of diverting and refused a drug screen is already addicted.

Random drug testing is an invasion of privacy, I applaud your union.

What is the solution? Don't drug test nurses are under suspicion of being under the influence and allow them to continue to be under the influence at work?

[Emergent, RN]

My thought is that, wouldn't having random drug testing hanging over ones head deter nurses from even starting a habit? People don't start out addicted. They have to cross that line for the first time. Then the use gradually escalates into physical addiction.

I detest random drug testing as much as anyone. But, it's like a vaccine. We KNOW, statistically, that a certain percentage of nurses are prone to addiction if exposed to certain substances. We have to PREVENT the person from catching this disease that not everyone will be susceptible to. I found out after my surgery last year that I'm not prone to opiate addiction. But some people are, and it''s probably a genetic predisposition.

I would submit to random testing in order to prevent my colleagues from being exposed to substances that could trigger this disease in them.

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

What is the solution? Don't drug test nurses are under suspicion of being under the influence and allow them to continue to be under the influence at work?

As I read the original post, this was not an RDS. Rather, a mandated drop due to documented suspicion of diversion.

Two entirely different issues.

[Pepper The Cat, BSN, RN]

I think it would be interesting to do a study comparing the number of nurses caught diverting in the US that does drug testing and Canada that does not drug test. I only know of one person in my entire career that diverted.

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

My thought is that, wouldn't having random drug testing hanging over ones head deter nurses from even starting a habit? People don't start out addicted. They have to cross that line for the first time. Then the use gradually escalates into physical addiction.

I detest random drug testing as much as anyone. But, it's like a vaccine. We KNOW, statistically, that a certain percentage of nurses are prone to addiction if exposed to certain substances. We have to PREVENT the person from catching this disease that not everyone will be susceptible to. I found out after my surgery last year that I'm not prone to opiate addiction. But some people are, and it''s probably a genetic predisposition.

I would submit to random testing in order to prevent my colleagues from being exposed to substances that could trigger this disease in them.

People become addicted to drugs /alcohol for 2 reasons, emotional or physical pain. The threat of RDS will not deter.You are not your brother's keeper. Do not give up your personal freedoms to protect anyone.

Again , let the powers that be.. do their thing.

[dirtyhippiegirl, BSN, RN]

I think you might be over simplifying addiction a bit? In my experience, the vast majority of nurses who divert aren't picking up the addiction from work. They usually end up addicted through legal means - like surgery - first, which is also the trend for the rest of the US. Once a nurse is stealing, it's usually a sign that they are pretty advanced in the addiction process.

Also as someone in her state's program, we don't need any more recreational MJ users which is all the random drug screens seem to catch.

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

I think you might be over simplifying addiction a bit? In my experience, the vast majority of nurses who divert aren't picking up the addiction from work. They usually end up addicted through legal means - like surgery - first, which is also the trend for the rest of the US. Once a nurse is stealing, it's usually a sign that they are pretty advanced in the addiction process.

Also as someone in her state's program, we don't need any more recreational MJ users which is all the random drug screens seem to catch.

Pass it over.

[dirtyhippiegirl, BSN, RN]

Pass it over.

Probably 1/3 of the Healthcare folks in my monitoring meeting are in for MJ use. It makes me feel bad about talking about "real addict" stuff. :/

[Emergent, RN]

People become addicted to drugs /alcohol for 2 reasons, emotional or physical pain. The threat of RDS will not deter.You are not your brother's keeper. Do not give up your personal freedoms to protect anyone.

Again , let the powers that be.. do their thing.

We give our personal freedoms in many aspects of life to protect others, or ourselves. For example, many nurses here favor mandatory vaccines. Other examples might include mandatory insurance laws, drunk driving laws, building codes, cell phone use while driving, seat belt laws, the list is endless.

[xoemmylouox, ASN, RN]

I seriously doubt the threat of drug testing is going to stop someone from becoming addicted to something. Addiction is a lot more complicated than that.