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I am a new RN who has only been working for about a month. The hospital I work for tested our urine for drugs and CIGARETTES as part of our preemployment screening. I was a smoker & I quit for the test. Recently a lot has been going on & I fell back into the habit (I could kick myself for it!!!) What are the odds that I will have to do monthly or "random" drug tests now that I'm hired?

**I don't smoke on the hospital grounds, or even in my car on the way to work, so I don't smell like smoke

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Specializes in Nursing Home ,Dementia Care,Neurology..

Can they really do that? has the world gone mad!Cigarettes are not an illegal substance.What next ,testing for coffee!

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Specializes in ICU, Agency, Travel, Pediatric Home Care, LTAC, Su.

That is totally ridiculous! I second what the poster above me said. It seems like discrimination that they are checking for nicotine. What you do on your own time, as long as it is not illegal, should be your business!! Please keep us posted.

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i'm not clear on this either.

can only non-smokers be employed at this hospital?

leslie

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Specializes in ICU/Critical Care.

Oh I hope they don't test for coffee. I NEED large amounts of caffiene in my system to function.

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Specializes in CDI Supervisor; Formerly NICU.

I would not respond appropriately to a request to test for nicotine. Even though I haven't smoked since Feb 14, 2007.

Frankly, it's none of their damned business if you smoke.

However, I remember a case a few years ago where a large company had forbidden their benefit-drawing employees from smoking, and it held up in court.

The world is indeed going mad.

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Specializes in Med-Surg/Tele, ER.

I am familiar with institutions who have for real instituted non-smoking policies. Were you informed of a non-smoking policy when you were hired?

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Specializes in Tele, Acute.
I would not respond appropriately to a request to test for nicotine. Even though I haven't smoked since Feb 14, 2007.

Frankly, it's none of their damned business if you smoke.

However, I remember a case a few years ago where a large company had forbidden their benefit-drawing employees from smoking, and it held up in court.

The world is indeed going mad.

Congrats Bortaz, what an accomplishment!

I'm a smoker and would flunk the test for sure.

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Specializes in CDI Supervisor; Formerly NICU.
Congrats Bortaz, what an accomplishment!

I'm a smoker and would flunk the test for sure.

Thanks. It was a 20+ year habit. I miss it sometimes, but I love my wife and grandchildren more than I loved smoking. :)

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Specializes in PICU/NICU.

I have an idea about the smoking thing....... I just started at a new hospital recently and when I filled out my forms for my benefits, there is a different monthly contribution for a smoker vs a non smoker(the smoker pays about double) It makes sense if you think about it because smokers are much higher risk. Now, as far as I know, my facility is on the honor system on this one- however it would not take the insurance carrier long to figure out if you really are a smoker and signed up as not.

Maybe this is the reason for the nicotine test? That is the only thing I can think of.

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