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

Incorrect, they do take drug tests.

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.

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.

I thought that this was a joke and was really trying to figure it out. :laugh:

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.

Nurses according to MFP: Obese, smokers, sluts, and now druggies.

LOL!!! RN54 and MyOwnSunshine!!!
(I am an RN)

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.

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

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:

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.

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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.

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:

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?

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..