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 Psychiatry.
CalebMommy: that's truly excessive! The school is abusing its power.

When I was in nursing school, I had drug screens done x6 (one per semester) and background checks.

that is NOT abuse of power- it's the school's responsibility to protect patients and the community.

Best,

Diane, RN

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Diane - I would agree however I haven't even STARTED yet! But, we are going to have to get additional drug tests throughout the program (one every semester) as well as the background checks. I think the background checks don't need the FBI fingerprints though, so that will save me $15.

And, it has been excessive when the background check is supposed to be good for a year. I've had FOUR in the last year!

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Specializes in Psychiatry.
And, it has been excessive when the background check is supposed to be good for a year. I've had FOUR in the last year!

I agree, this is excessive AND a waste of money (the background checks x4) Especially when the students have to pick up the tab.

We had yearly background checks and per semester drug screening.

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

I don't know what type my school did as I was never called to have one, but they had the right to test us at random.

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Specializes in Medical/Oncology, Family Practice.

my school instituted urine drug tests during my senior year. We all had to go in, pee in a cup, but because it was a new policy, they gave us advanced warning. They could also do randoms. At the hospital I work at, we also had an initial before hire, and randoms. If we have an on the job injury, we get a urine test done. Its embarrasing, its sucks, but you know everyone else has to do it too.

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I've only seen urine tests where I am (Bay Area CA)

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Addendum: some schools do them & some don't-my understanding is that it depends on what the clinical facilities require or what the school's insurance requires.

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Wow. We didn't have to do any drug tests. I had no idea it was so widespread. We did, however, have to do what felt like 50 background checks (all at our expense of course). We even had to go get our fingerprints done.

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I agree, this is excessive AND a waste of money (the background checks x4) Especially when the students have to pick up the tab.

We had yearly background checks and per semester drug screening.

Rather than doing one for each facility, you might suggest that the results go to the school (rather than the facility) & the school forward the results to each facility....same for drug tests. That should at least cut it down to one of each a year.

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.
If we have an on the job injury, we get a urine test done. Its embarrasing, its sucks, but you know everyone else has to do it too.

They do that at mine too.

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It's a workman's comp thing, not a facility thing.

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Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.
Diane - I would agree however I haven't even STARTED yet! But, we are going to have to get additional drug tests throughout the program (one every semester) as well as the background checks. I think the background checks don't need the FBI fingerprints though, so that will save me $15.

And, it has been excessive when the background check is supposed to be good for a year. I've had FOUR in the last year!

What is there reasoning for this, it doesn't make any sense? I mean I can understand doing it before entering the program, but what is their reasoning for requiring all these times before you are even in nursing school?

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