What happens if you drink a beer?

NurCrystal22 · Sep 16, 2005

I am in nursing school. I am 39 yrs old and every once in a while I would like to drink a beer or mixed drink while I am out with my husband. If they give me a drug test the next day, or a few days later, would I fail and be thrown out of the program? I am NOT an person who drinks regularly. I have had 2 beers this year...but...this last few weeks have really been rough and I would like to drink one every once in a while to relax...what do yall think? :)

Find out what the drug policy is. Is the drug test looking for illegal drugs or controlled substance abuse. Alcohol may be okay. You best bet is to ask.

Anyways, if the test was a few days later I'm sure you'd be okay, the next day may be cutting it close depending on how much you drink.

I don't really understand what's going on.... you're program requires random drug tests throughout the course of the program or what? Odd.

~Crystal

Editorial Team / Admin · Sep 16, 2005

I am in nursing school. I am 39 yrs old and every once in a while I would like to drink a beer or mixed drink while I am out with my husband. If they give me a drug test the next day, or a few days later, would I fail and be thrown out of the program? I am NOT an person who drinks regularly. I have had 2 beers this year...but...this last few weeks have really been rough and I would like to drink one every once in a while to relax...what do yall think? :)

Hello, Regina66

Just remember that alcohol can be detected in the urine 6-24 hours after ingestion.

cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN · Sep 16, 2005

I am in nursing school. I am 39 yrs old and every once in a while I would like to drink a beer or mixed drink while I am out with my husband. If they give me a drug test the next day, or a few days later, would I fail and be thrown out of the program? I am NOT an person who drinks regularly. I have had 2 beers this year...but...this last few weeks have really been rough and I would like to drink one every once in a while to relax...what do yall think? :)

I enjoy myself a lovely martini many times a month (except during fertile periods!). The only way that you would get in trouble is if you went to clincal smelling like alcohol and had a drink right before or were still drunk from the night before. Let me tell you, it takes many a beer to still be drunk the next day. I think the rule is that you body takes about an hour to metabolize each drink. If it has been more than an hour since your last drink, then you are probably safe. BTW, our head of nursing told us to switch to vodka as to keep the smell of beer off of our skin! Enjoy! :cheers: :beercuphe

Tweety, BSN, RN · Sep 16, 2005

You will be thrown out for signs of alcoholism, not the occasional drink as you describe. Relax and enjoy your cocktail. It takes about an hour per drink to clear your system.

cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN · Sep 16, 2005

I just got a random drug test during my first clinical day this semester (my whole group did AND we had to pay for it ourselves!!!). Anyway, it was a peds clincal and I hate to work in peds so I enjoyed myself a lovely blue martini. :) the night before. No worries.

VeryPlainJane · Sep 16, 2005

I'm sorry but I found this sooooo funny! I have a gin & tonic baby! lol:p

I enjoy myself a lovely martini many times a month (except during fertile periods!).

wonderbee, BSN, RN · Sep 16, 2005

Last time I looked, alcohol is still legal. They're looking for illegal substances and narcotics without a prescription.

Gompers, BSN, RN · Sep 16, 2005

Last time I looked, alcohol is still legal. They're looking for illegal substances and narcotics without a prescription.

Exactly. There is no law about drinking as much as you want when you are not working or in clinicals at the hospital. So long as you don't drink and drive and are over 21, it's legal. Just be sure to stay away from alcohol for at least 12 hours before you have to be at the hospital.

I don't even know if alcohol shows up on a urine drug screen - if anything, you'd get a breathalizer and I've never heard of a hospital or school doing that. I have heard of employees suspected of being under the influence and getting blood tests to check alcohol levels, though.

I went to nursing school right after high school - four year BSN program. There were about 100 students in my class, and at least 75 of them were the same age as me. Many had a VERY good time in college and drank quite a bit - but when it was time for school and especially clinicals, there wasn't a drop of alcohol in any of us.

Editorial Team / Admin · Sep 16, 2005

I don't even know if alcohol shows up on a urine drug screen - .

As I previously stated, alcohol can be detected in urine for 6-24 hours.

Gompers, BSN, RN · Sep 16, 2005

As I previously stated, alcohol can be detected in urine for 6-24 hours.

I just don't even understand what the debate is - I've never heard of a nursing school that considered alcohol to be a problem unless the student came to class or clinicals under the influence.

elisRN · Sep 16, 2005

I was worried about the same thing in school.....My friends and I went out the night before our drug test (unknowingly) I had one margherita and 2 beers and then chugged water....it was fine...it takes your body one hour to eliminate 6 or 8 oz (can't remember) of alcohol. I even told the drug test guy I drank the night before and he said I would have had to drink in the last 2hrs for it to show up. You'd pretty much have to wake up and drink a beer for breakfast to test postive.....you're fine!

I am in nursing school. I am 39 yrs old and every once in a while I would like to drink a beer or mixed drink while I am out with my husband. If they give me a drug test the next day, or a few days later, would I fail and be thrown out of the program? I am NOT an person who drinks regularly. I have had 2 beers this year...but...this last few weeks have really been rough and I would like to drink one every once in a while to relax...what do yall think? :)