Speaking of drug testing...

Published

Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

Anyone ever heard of a large healthcare network NOT drug testing as part of pre-employment? Just did my pre-employment occupational health stuff, and since I just had a partial discectomy/laminectomy, I'm still taking occasional Vicodin when my muscles are particularly sore (still on medical leave). With that in mind, I brought my bottle of Vicodin with me, as well as the d/c paperwork from the surgery, listing all my at-home meds. She didn't even want to see it! And there was no pee test. I thought that was incredibly odd, and I'm just wondering if anyone else has heard of that.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Family Practice, L&D, Surgery.

That does sound a tad odd to me too!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care.

My hospital doesn't drug test (well, I imagine in might if there was grounds for it)...

I've never had to do a urine drug screen In my life, actually.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency.

I also have never been subject to a drug test. I don't think they are common in Canada (I notice PP is also Canadian). I work for a large health authority and as far as I know they never do pre-employment drug screening.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Maybe a controversial belief, but I'm strongly opposed to routine pre-employment drug screening. I mean, I do it because I like being employed and all, but I think in general they're unncessary and overly intrusive. Testing based on reasonable suspicion? Absolutely. So, no, I don't think it's weird, I think it's an employer who chooses to let grown ups be grown ups.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OB.

Yes. I work for a large private teaching hospital in NYC that does not do pre-employment drug testing. I asked the occupational health nurse who did my physical about it, and she said the money they spend testing every employee's urine definitely is not worth catching the odd person in every thousand who actually has a drug problem. I did clinicals at three different city (public) hospitals, however, and they all required UDS.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Companies get discounts on insurance if they drug test, so sometimes they will say they will do random drug testing to get the discount, then never drug test so they don't have to pay for the test.

Kinda like if you have an anti-theft system on your car, your insurance company may give you a discounted price for auto insurance

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CMSRN.

I was just offered my first RN position today and the only thing mentioned was a background check, which I signed off on before I left and accepted the position on the spot. This is a LARGE health group in my area so I'm a little surprised but I wouldn't have a problem so it's not something I gave any thought to until this moment.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion