How do nursing schools drug test

Clinical programs are one of several types of classes required in the nursing curriculum, and nursing students participating in clinical programs next semester will need to complete their testing between Dec.

Linda Carpenter, assistant dean of the School of Nursing, said the foremost reason for the new policy is to ensure the safety of patients treated by students and to standardize drug testing for all students in a way that meets industry guidelines. The new policy had been expected for a decade, Carpenter said, but was finally instituted this year after the Health Industry Steering Committee reported new industry standards requiring standardized drug testing for students working in Central Texas hospitals.

The committee, a local industry-lead regulatory group, circulates industry guidelines from medical accreditation agencies to medical employees in Central Texas, and includes nursing and pharmacy schools. Nursing junior Tiffany Torrence, networking officer for the Hispanic Nursing Student Association, said the hard work put in by students to enter into the nursing program should already demonstrate the quality of the students at clinical agencies.

Some clinical agencies already test students enrolled in their programs, including St. Ana Mejia-Dietche, director of the Health Industry Steering Committee, said the committee and the School of Nursing sought to require the least restrictive guidelines necessary for students in nursing.

Professional nursing involves high levels of regulation and testing, Mejia-Dietche said, and the policy is meant to partially prepare students for the career path they are entering. Students who fail drug screenings will not be allowed entry into their clinical classes, but will be able to continue enrollment in the nursing program, Carpenter said. So the best solution is to simply stop taking drugs now and forever. I know it can be very very difficult, but there are many options for getting help such as detox centers and drug rehabilitation clinics if you have a severe addiction.

Would it really be worth the risk to be banned from nursing school, to get fired as a nurse, or even lose your nursing license over a simple drug? My friends and I have decided to live a healthy lifestyle and to avoid drugs—even alcohol. We also believe in exercising regularly and doing everything we can to preserve our health. If you take prescription medications given to you by a doctor , then obviously most of those will be excused, and any time you take a drug test you will need to let them know you do indeed have a prescription for those drugs.

In most cases prescription drugs are not a problem assuming they do not affect your job performance. Although some employers or nursing schools may prohibit certain drugs. Do nursing schools drug test students?

Disclosure and Privacy Policy This website provides entertainment value only, not medical advice or nursing protocols. By accessing any content on this site or its related media channels, you agree never to hold us liable for damages, harm, loss, or misinformation. See our full disclosure and privacy policy. Hence, the person is breaking the law by taking them. Those in the medical profession are expected to be trustworthy, upstanding citizens. So, the nursing school drug test helps weed the bad pupils out from the good ones so to speak.

Another reason why the nursing school drug test is beneficial is that it ensures students are ready for whatever gets thrown their way. Many times, pupils have to do hands-on procedures on live patients. If they are on marijuana, cocaine, or another substance, their judgment will be impaired. Nurses must also handle medications on a daily basis. If the person is already using recreational drugs, they may be tempted to sneak a couple of pills here or there for their own personal use.

So, while everyone may not agree with the drug testing, it is truly a necessity. As long as the candidate sticks to the straight and narrow, they can enjoy a long, lucrative career in the field. Last updated on September 22nd, at am At National Drug Screening we get calls all the time asking for various forms, resources and.

Last updated on September 21st, at pm Employers conducting employee drug testing have questions or confusion about issues that turn up in the. Order A Drug Test. February 4, Joe Reilly. Last updated on February 23rd, at pm Many, many people choose to get into the nursing field, and why not? Author Bio. Joe Reilly. More Posts.