Testing!

[Persephone Paige, ADN]

Has anyone else had the experience of increased testing once they become employed?

Prior to employment I was tested randomly, twice a month. Since becoming employed I have been tested 6 times ( 5 urines and a pEth ) in less than 6 weeks. I don't mind being tested, but doggone! I have been very fortunate that testing has only fallen on one work day. But, I work days. I cannot go before work as my relief wants to go home and I don't blame them. So, I have to leave during shift, arrive there before 2pm. It's a huge issue to leave the floor, walk a long way to the parking lot, drive, wait, drive back, walk and forget lunch, etc... Not to mention the fact that nothing will be happening for my patients in my absence.

I guess I could just be being paranoid, but sometimes it feels like the system is set up so that if we do make it out, it will only be because we are made of steel. I am, btw. But, I really wish I didn't always have to prove it.

[dagobah, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

I went 11 months with no work. Averaging 1-2 screens a month. Many consecutive months were just 1. Then.......work started....yup, 3-5 times a month.

I used to set my alarm at 445 am waiting for the first chance to log in to see if I "have to go". When I did go, I got to the lab by 520 am. A hiccup or two happened during the 4 years. No one showed up, or the lab tech was the opposite gender. I went after work. They were 24 hours, and my state you had to provide the specimen before 11pm.

I always thought of the other nurse in support group who didn't have a job during monitoring, made me humble real quick. Good luck to you PP

[Kel65, MSN, RN]

Yes, it's typical and normal.

[Persephone Paige, ADN]

Okay, thanks guys. I'm 3 1/2 years into a 5 year contract and I look so forward to July 2020. Can't wait to do a countdown! Wooo!

[catsmeow1972, BSN, RN]

When I actually HAD a job, for the most part it was still the requisite 2x a month. I counted myself lucky when it was in a non workday. I tried to work as many sat/sun as I could get away with being the newbie there. If it was a weekday, I had a great NM that covered for me (car trouble or something)

with my first job, I was lucky enough that the lab opened before I had to be in.

This system feels like it is set up to force failure. In reality the set up simply does not take the reality of working nurses into account at all. No parts of this stuff does. If it did, you wouldn’t have unemployed nurses forced to fork out hundreds of dollars a month on this crap.

The only increase I’m seeing now is the one “that we may notice, as testing is a valuable tool in recovery.”???.

[Persephone Paige, ADN]

I agree, Cats. When I got this job, I honestly believe my CM was as shocked as I was. I'd been in monitoring 3 yrs and 4 mos. I start work and that's stressful enough to go from a couch slug to wide open. Then comes the Uber testing. God forbid we get any sort of consideration, "oh you got a job? Well, here's 3x the testing you've been accustomed to as a reward! Good luck!"

[Persephone Paige, ADN]

Mine had a zero policy too. I didn't listen. But, that was many moons ago. I think every place is zero policy with randoms, or they should be.