What type of drug tests do nursing schools do?

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Urine, Blood, or Hair? I'm just curious, as I've had a hair test done before and they cut 2 chunks out!! Not sure how that would look now considering my hair is so short!!

Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.

I am surprised by all the schools that don't do one.

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Specializes in SNU/SNF/MedSurg, SPCU Ortho/Neuro/Spine.

I had to do a background and drug check when i got in, and also sign one paper for possible random checks...

if stress showed on those, id be long gone!

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Specializes in TCU.

Background check for my school, no drug screen. Wouldn't care if they needed urine/blood/hair, I got nuffin' to hide :)!

I know that once I am hired as an RN, I will have to undergo drug testing. I've had to for jobs as a CNA.

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I have to laugh - I only had to do urine for nursing school. But here in Vegas - all of the hotels I worked in did hair! Sad that they want to test more completely for a casino/hotel/restaurant job than a nursing job in this town.

Just keep dancing!

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We have to do urine, background and possible blood screens. Before and they say randomly if they suspect something.

My question is does a lidoderm patch have enough of anything to test positive? I cut one down and use 2" squares on my big toe joints when they are really hurting. I will eventually need to do something about that surgically but now is not the time. Just wondering about drug testing, as that will come up in a few weeks. I haven't used a patch in several weeks now, just in case.

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Specializes in ICU.

Just a background screening for my program, but I'm sure we signed something about consent to random drug screening.

My question is does a lidoderm patch have enough of anything to test positive?

I'm not sure about that, but don't facilities always ask that you list any medications you have taken in x amount of days so they won't be surprised if it shows up in the results?

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Specializes in Peds, psych.

We didn't have to do any drug tests, although I'm sure they can test you if they feel the need to.

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We peed in a cup. Then they tested it right in front of you by dipping a sort of sheet of different strips into it. Instant results! It was kind of cool, actually, despite the embarrassment of oh-my-god-that's-my-pee.

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Specializes in Geri-psych Nursing.

My nursing school didn't require any testing, but we signed a form that gave permission to test us if we seemed to be "under the influence" or acted strangely. They're thinking of changing that this year, though. Guess they heard some of the students outside after class talking about their weekend partying, lol.

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buccal swab, our professor walked into class a few days later & stated "First test results & all 30 students passed".

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We had none and I have worked 37 years in Canada and no drug screen but I think it is about time it was a mandatory test for ALL health care workers.(Doctors, Nurses, PCA's etc....) It is ssoooooooo easy for abuse to go on and still allowed to work as a health professional. We need to be accountable instead of maling it hard to get rid of the druggies. They not only use, they steal and the patients do not get medicated! It's time to take action.:madface:to drugs!!!

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buccal swab, our professor walked into class a few days later & stated "First test results & all 30 students passed".

I've never heard of drug testing with a buccal swab and I can't find much information on it online. Do you know what they were testing for?

It sounds a heck of a lot nicer than getting blood drawn or peeing into a cup. I will never be used to handing a stranger a little cup of my own product, ever.

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