Urine test

[TamTam23]

I am going for my physical this week to be an employee at a hospital. They are giving us a urine test and I was just wondering would smoking cigarettes cost me my chance for the job? I know its not marijuana or nearly as bad, but i was just wondering would they cut me once they find nicotine in my system? Just curious =/ because this is my dream job

[klone, MSN, RN]

Most hospitals now will not let you smoke on their property and enforce that regularly but I haven't heard of one saying if you smoke at all you cannot work here.

I've heard of several that have recently adopted this policy. If the OP's hospital is one of them (sounds like it is, if they're testing cotinine), then yes, it will show up on a urine screen.

[klone, MSN, RN]

Quit now and you won't have to worry about it.

I believe she said the physical is in a couple days. Quitting now would not help.

[thinkertdm]

I am a fairly new nurse, but I have been employed for a year, and did clinicals for two years prior to that. In all that time I have seen two people with lung cancer. Every shift if I have 6 patients at least 4 or more will be diabetic. At least one or sometimes up to 3 three will be obese. Not overweight I mean (get the lift equipment) obese.

If we are going to not hire smokers then we need to just get down to business. No hiring anyone more than 10 lbs over their ideal weight or anyone with high cholesterol. In addition, they should test for caffeine, and that will get rid of those pesky energy drinks, coffee, and soda's.

If they refuse to hire the above that should open up the job market quite a bit.

I am not sure you understand what I am trying to say.

The insurance company is the one setting the rules. They looked over their records, and found that they spend much more money on smokers. The insurance company raises their rates. The employer can either pay those rates, and go out of business, or try to negotiate a deal with them to get lower rates- in this case, not hiring smokers.

Don't worry about fat people. The insurance company has them targeted too. In fact, I'm sure they have pretty advanced programs to look over their expenses and find ways to save money.

I don't understand your use of the word "we". Many people in this thread seem to have generalized the roles of the players in this game- "them" vs "us", when in fact, there are many parties involved, and guess what? They are all looking out for themselves.

Some people might argue that no one is looking out for the employee, when that is not true at all. The employee can do lots of things. They can work at a place that doesn't this. They can actually participate in political and policy discussion, rather than just taking it.