Had a conversation with a co-worker the other day who said he smokes, and he wants to leave current hospital, however, he is seeing more and more that surrounding hospitals / health facilities publicly state "this is a tobacco free environment," and heard that with those places, during a pre-hire health screening, the individual will be tested for nicotine.
I have other colleagues who don't use tobacco products, however, they vape, or are quitting smoking via patches, nicotine gum, etc. Even if he is aiming to quit smoking, and uses non-tobacco products to do this, wouldnt the nicotine still be present during testing? And then wouldnt he fail? I've never had to deal with it so I don't really know what to tell him.
Has anyone heard of a colleague, or, if you personally had to do nicotine testing during a pre hire health screen and based on those results, employers refused to hire? (No matter HOW the nicotine got into their system - cigs, vape, gum, patches, etc)? Is there a timeframe that exists where he could just "white knuckle it" through without using ANY nicotine products that would allow him to pass?
Follow up question (out of curiosity): can a person present a MD note stating that they never used tobacco products / never been a smoker, or maybe they did in the past, and are on the path of quitting (via patches, gum, etc)? and don't currently use? Does that make a difference?
Sorry if that sounds like a terrible question... he does want to quit smoking, and wants to leave current position, however feels stuck, because of the tobacco free policy trend. He feels kinda like "well, whats the point, might as well just keep on doing what I'm doing if it doesnt make a difference."
Curious what yalls experiences are or if you have any advice. Would appreciate it! Thanks!
