Why don't doctors and nurses pee in a cup?

ninerbuff
ninerbuff Posts: 48,993 Member
in Chit-Chat
From my understanding (correct me if I'm wrong), doctors and nurses don't need to take drug tests? Also from my understanding, medical staffs have a good percentage of drug abuse amongst them. Can anyone clarify if this is true?

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
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Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
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Replies

  • RN514
    RN514 Posts: 1,107 Member
    Incorrect, they do take drug tests.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,993 Member
    Incorrect, they do take drug tests.
    Not according to an article I read:

    http://abcnews.go.com/Health/PainManagement/story?id=6232694

    Now maybe for hiring, but what about during tenure?

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • _TastySnoBalls_
    _TastySnoBalls_ Posts: 1,298 Member
    Incorrect, we do get drug tested ( I'm a nurse). Have to pass one to get hired, then they can drug test you anytime after that.
  • _TastySnoBalls_
    _TastySnoBalls_ Posts: 1,298 Member
    Incorrect, they do take drug tests.
    Not according to an article I read:

    http://abcnews.go.com/Health/PainManagement/story?id=6232694

    Now maybe for hiring, but what about during tenure?


    There probably is some truth to that... In every profession though. There are many functioning addicts out there, once they pass that initial new-hire drug test, then they're pretty much "free" to go about their drug habits and play it off very well. Management won't drug test without cause, and even with obvious signs of drug abuse , sometimes still will not test them or address the issue... I've seen that happen in several previous workplaces.
  • vtmoon
    vtmoon Posts: 3,436 Member
    Pretty sure depends on the hospital HR department, some conduct them regularly/randomly/never after they higher them. It all depends on how much on an issue it is and if it's affecting business. As a business at the end of the day it's a cost that they don't need to take if they don't have to.
  • MyOwnSunshine
    MyOwnSunshine Posts: 1,312 Member
    Doctors and nurses are subjected to drug tests. All must pass a pre-employment drug screen, and also agree to "for cause" testing in the case of impaired judgement or mistakes. Most employers may drug test at will for any cause.

    My hospital also tests all new employees for nicotine (cotinine swabs) and will not hire tobacco users.

    There are very elaborate programs run by the state medical boards and state boards of nursing for any doctor or nurse who has a positive drug test. They lose their priviliges to prescribe and administer all narcotic meds, must attend years of group and individual counseling, and are subject to sometimes daily random drug screens, and must ask for permission before leaving the state. Failure to complete said program results in the revocation of their license.

    All postive drug tests obtained by the employer are reported to the board of medicine or nursing and are generally public knowledge on their websites.
  • teamAmelia
    teamAmelia Posts: 1,247 Member
    I thought that this was a joke and was really trying to figure it out. :laugh:
  • netsirk12
    netsirk12 Posts: 220 Member
    As far as I know in my state anyways the only people exempt from urine testing is police officers.
  • teamAmelia
    teamAmelia Posts: 1,247 Member
    Doctors and nurses are subjected to drug tests. All must pass a pre-employment drug screen, and also agree to "for cause" testing in the case of impaired judgement or mistakes. Most employers may drug test at will for any cause.

    My hospital also tests all new employees for nicotine (cotinine swabs) and will not hire tobacco users.

    There are very elaborate programs run by the state medical boards and state boards of nursing for any doctor or nurse who has a positive drug test. They lose their priviliges to prescribe and administer all narcotic meds, must attend years of group and individual counseling, and are subject to sometimes daily random drug screens, and must ask for permission before leaving the state. Failure to complete said program results in the revocation of their license.

    All postive drug tests obtained by the employer are reported to the board of medicine or nursing and are generally public knowledge on their websites.

    wow. I don't think ppl should smoke, but I don't think that they should not hire ppl because they smoke.
  • MyOwnSunshine
    MyOwnSunshine Posts: 1,312 Member
    In thinking about this topic further, doctors who are self-employed and don't have privileges at hospitals may not be drug tested. Also, nurses who are employed at a doctors' office or clinics may or may not be subjected to employment drug testing.

    Anyone can turn in a doctor or nurse to the medical or nursing board if they suspect that they are abusing drugs, inappropriately prescribing drugs or illegally diverting drugs. The board would then investigate and suspend or revoke their license, or allow them to practice conditionally while attending a mandatory program for substance abuse.
  • RN514
    RN514 Posts: 1,107 Member
    Nurses according to MFP: Obese, smokers, sluts, and now druggies.
  • MyOwnSunshine
    MyOwnSunshine Posts: 1,312 Member
    Nurses according to MFP: Obese, smokers, sluts, and now druggies.

    I'm printing out names and profile pictures just in case any of the nurse-haters end up on my unit begging for Dilaudid. :grumble:
  • granolagirl
    granolagirl Posts: 45 Member
    LOL!!! RN54 and MyOwnSunshine!!!
    (I am an RN)
  • StarChanger
    StarChanger Posts: 605 Member
    Incorrect, we do get drug tested ( I'm a nurse). Have to pass one to get hired, then they can drug test you anytime after that.

    This (I'm a doc)
  • tlou5
    tlou5 Posts: 497 Member
    At the hospital where I work ALL employees undergo mandatory drug testing prior to starting. After that there are random draws from all departments. No one is exempt from testing.
  • kelbelzz
    kelbelzz Posts: 92 Member
    I'm a medical assistant and it's been different for each clinic I've worked at. I worked at North Memorial and there was a mandatory drug test before I was hired, but none after that..

    At Northwest Family Physicians I did not have to take a drug test. I think it might depend on the company.
  • kelbelzz
    kelbelzz Posts: 92 Member
    Nurses according to MFP: Obese, smokers, sluts, and now druggies.

    I'm printing out names and profile pictures just in case any of the nurse-haters end up on my unit begging for Dilaudid. :grumble:

    lol omg :)
  • Mustang_Susie
    Mustang_Susie Posts: 7,045 Member
    70f30j.jpg
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,993 Member
    In thinking about this topic further, doctors who are self-employed and don't have privileges at hospitals may not be drug tested. Also, nurses who are employed at a doctors' office or clinics may or may not be subjected to employment drug testing.

    Anyone can turn in a doctor or nurse to the medical or nursing board if they suspect that they are abusing drugs, inappropriately prescribing drugs or illegally diverting drugs. The board would then investigate and suspend or revoke their license, or allow them to practice conditionally while attending a mandatory program for substance abuse.
    This I've seen happen. I just happen to listen in on a radio conversation about drug abuse by anesthesiologist's being at a high rate. Apparently the authority discussing it found it quite difficult to get drug testing done on them without discrimination. Anyway it's good to hear from others that the medical field goes through many mandatory drug tests like other occupations.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • Mia_RagazzaTosta
    Mia_RagazzaTosta Posts: 4,885 Member
    I got tested upon hire and they threaten randoms but I've never had one.
  • teamAmelia
    teamAmelia Posts: 1,247 Member
    Nurses according to MFP: Obese, smokers, sluts, and now druggies.

    I'm printing out names and profile pictures just in case any of the nurse-haters end up on my unit begging for Dilaudid. :grumble:

    Screenshot taken just in case any "accidents" happen at your hospital. :laugh:
  • highervibes
    highervibes Posts: 2,219 Member
    This is all Nurse Jackie's fault lol
  • MyOwnSunshine
    MyOwnSunshine Posts: 1,312 Member
    In thinking about this topic further, doctors who are self-employed and don't have privileges at hospitals may not be drug tested. Also, nurses who are employed at a doctors' office or clinics may or may not be subjected to employment drug testing.

    Anyone can turn in a doctor or nurse to the medical or nursing board if they suspect that they are abusing drugs, inappropriately prescribing drugs or illegally diverting drugs. The board would then investigate and suspend or revoke their license, or allow them to practice conditionally while attending a mandatory program for substance abuse.
    This I've seen happen. I just happen to listen in on a radio conversation about drug abuse by anesthesiologist's being at a high rate. Apparently the authority discussing it found it quite difficult to get drug testing done on them without discrimination. Anyway it's good to hear from others that the medical field goes through many mandatory drug tests like other occupations.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

    Well, it makes sense that people who work under extreme stress and adverse conditions, and who also have access to extremely potent narcotics would be more likely to abuse those drugs than someone who does not have access. Unfortunately, doctors, nurses, pharmacists and police officers all have a higher likelihood of substance abuse because of the nature of their jobs. I have known several doctors and nurses who have been mandated to participate in substance abuse programs over the years.

    My personal experience is that it is not difficult to get mandatory drug testing done if there is careful documentation of a pattern of suspected abuse, or even one concerning incident.

    Contrary to the opinions of most on MFP, most doctors and nurses entered their profession to help people, and work under extreme duress and receive very little appreciation for the sacrifices they make (long hours, holidays, nights, weekends; dealing with body fluids; actually saving people's lives on a regular basis). The hardest thing I've ever had to do is to call someone in the middle of the night and tell them their spouse of 50 years or more has died. I have had to do this multiple times in my career. Imagine an ED or Trauma physician who has to do this multiple times in one shift. It is not easy to tell people that their children are dead. Anesthesiologists have an extremely precise and stressful job, often stand on their feet for 12 or more hours at a time with no food, drink or bathroom breaks, while monitoring patients. They save lives on the table every day. Sometimes they don't and it's horrible when they can't. Extreme duress and not being able to express emotions on the job lead to the need to self-medicate -- with drugs, with food, sometimes with healthy behavior like exercise.

    Substance abuse happens in every social strata, in every career, in every age group. Unfortunately, when access to potent narcotics is easy, and stress levels are constantly and abnormally high, substance abuse is more likely.
  • ldrosophila
    ldrosophila Posts: 7,512 Member
    Depends, the hospital I work at due to it's federal funding status requires drug testing. The MD since they are independent and not affiliated with the hospital do not have to drug test.

    If you worked for the VA hospital you would be drug tested.

    Personally, I think drug testing is an invasion of my privacy and violates rights. If I am a productive employee with a good attendance record that should be all that is needed. not what I do in the privacy of my home after work.

    But since we are a country of teetotalers "just say No" propagandist I have no choice if I want employment...for now.
  • ldrosophila
    ldrosophila Posts: 7,512 Member


    My hospital also tests all new employees for nicotine (cotinine swabs) and will not hire tobacco users.


    So if a person uses an e-cig and is trying to quit they cannot be hired...OMG! :grumble:
  • Mia_RagazzaTosta
    Mia_RagazzaTosta Posts: 4,885 Member


    My hospital also tests all new employees for nicotine (cotinine swabs) and will not hire tobacco users.


    So if a person uses an e-cig and is trying to quit they cannot be hired...OMG! :grumble:

    My hospital system does this too.
  • tiggerhammon
    tiggerhammon Posts: 2,211 Member
    What about alcohol abuse?
    For any of those that have seen the series Lost, Jack's father is the type I am talking about.
    I have heard in the medical field, alcohol abuse is common.
    How would they randomly test for that without being very discriminatory?
  • highervibes
    highervibes Posts: 2,219 Member
    How can they not hire nurses that use tobacco, it's not illegal. I can understand not wanting them to smoke at work but that seems bizzarre and discriminatory.
  • Bankman1989
    Bankman1989 Posts: 1,116 Member
    Someone's been watching too much "Nurse Jackie"..lol. I don't think my doctor is on crack..most have GOD complexes I have heard but to be honest I got that from an old Alec Baldwin movie..
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    Incorrect, they do take drug tests.
    Not according to an article I read:

    http://abcnews.go.com/Health/PainManagement/story?id=6232694

    Now maybe for hiring, but what about during tenure?

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
    As a former journalist, I can tell you that any news story you read will likely be only partially correct and fully explained and there will be a lot left out.

    Plus, there are millions of doctors and nurses. I can't believe anything is true for 100% of them ...

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