drug testing at hospitals

Hi,
I was just wondering if nurses have to take random drug tests for illegal drugs? don't worry, i'm not a druggie nursing student I was just wondering. we had to do them all the time in the navy. thanks
Not silly at all. I was also in the Navy and I can remember even doing drug test when I was pregnant -lol. However, as an RN, I have done one drug test (pre-employment physical) once in the 14 years I've been a nurse. However, your employer can do random drug tests for cause - if you are acting strange, if you have med errors, if there is a reason. Good luck in school.

In my facility 2 names are drawn out of a hat each month for random testing. Well, mine was drawn several yrs. ago. I have to tell you I certainly didn't like the experience....wash you hands, don't touch, don't flush, don't do this, don't do that, sign this, seal this.....and the color of the toilet water was out of this world! A neighboring hospital lab does the actual testing.Hope my name isn't drawn ever again. It was humiliating! Yet, we do a lot of them for employers in the area as well as for law enforcement.

i guess since healthcare has become so corporatized, drug testing for nurses is becoming passe. i dont have a problem being tested for a job , i guess because i am not an impaired nurse. i have seen several colleagues enter the tpapn proram because they were found out...finally. not as a result of testing before employment,however, but because they were caught on the job . drug testing is here to stay,like it or not.

Quote from sister--*In my facility 2 names are drawn out of a hat each month for random testing. Well, mine was drawn several yrs. ago. I have to tell you I certainly didn't like the experience....wash you hands, don't touch, don't flush, don't do this, don't do that, sign this, seal this.....and the color of the toilet water was out of this world! A neighboring hospital lab does the actual testing.

I have had drug testing for employment done at the current hospital I work at, howerver they don't seem to do random tests, I assume they would if you were under suspicion.At my last job, they initiated random tests; a coworker was asked to take one when a "substitute" manager was on site. No reason was given, the "substitute" could not prove her authority for ordering the test; other than "X said you had to". The employee refused, and was summarily fired.It's a strange world.

um.... They drug test to work at circkle K. I would hope they drug test everyone who has access to controlled substances on a daily basis, and who is responsible for life and death situations. you'd be surprised what people are capable of these days. In my last place of employment, i know if they acutally took advantage of their policy for randomized drug testing, many people would be in the "Can Do" program. I can't believe any place would not do a Pre-hire drug screen now days.

I've never been asked. Showing my age I guess.

Why would one refuse a drug test? hmm....

Quote from dorimarWhy would one refuse a drug test? hmm....

If it is a legally prescribed drug, you are given the opportunity to declare this before the drug test. I do think it is appropriate for a work place to know if the nurses take benzo's or opiates outside of work even if it is legally prescribed (in case this were to filter into work and alter their performance). Also marijuana is illegal, period. If it were legal it would be a whole new discussion.

Dorimar asks, "why would one refuse a drug test....hmmmmm"Thomas Jefferson is spinning in his grave as we speak!Here is a reason one would refuse a drug test:http://www.aclufl.org/issues/privacy/drug_testing.cfm

Quote from KellNY (I'm also of the apparently unpopular mindset that if a nurse smokes MJ occasionally on her days off, that is also no one elses business--as long as it's not affecting her job performance, but that's beside the point)