Purpose

Based on the Rules of the Oklahoma State Board of Nursing, nursing education programs must “maintain policies or procedures that promote safe patient care during student clinical experiences”. A nursing student or nursing assistant student in a clinical assignment, who is under the influence of alcohol or drugs that impair judgment, poses a threat to the safety of clients. For these reasons, evidence of use of these substances, documented by positive drug and/or alcohol screening tests, will result in immediate withdrawal of the student from the nursing course or program. In the event of an appeal, Northeast Technology Center will make every effort to expedite the appeals process and assure the student of fundamental fairness.

Pre-Admission and/or Pre-Clinical Drug Screening

1. Students will be informed of this process prior to admission to the nursing program and will be required to sign a consent form and return to the Department of Nursing a statement indicating understanding of the procedure.

2. All nursing students will be required to submit to a urine drug screening prior to the beginning of clinical laboratory experiences. Test samples will be analyzed by a qualified laboratory selected by the technology center.

3. Students will be advised of the procedure to follow to complete the urine drug screening prior to the beginning of clinical experiences.

4. Students will pay for this screening.

5. Students cannot be admitted to the PN program or begin clinical experiences until the test results are available.

6. Students receiving negative drug screens or positive drug screens due to permissible prescription drugs will be permitted to begin/continue clinical experiences unless the prescribed medication impairs the student in a way that could compromise patient care. In the latter case, medical review and documentation will be required.

7. Students testing positive for illegal substances or for non-prescribed legal substances will be dismissed from the nursing program. See Section 4 Positive Screening Test below.

For Cause Testing

1. This procedure refers to the use/misuse of, or being under the influence of alcoholic beverages, illegal drugs or drugs which impair judgment while on duty in any health care facility, school, institution or other work location as a representative of the Nursing Program.

2. The student will be asked to submit to an alcohol and drug screening at a designated facility if the nursing faculty, clinical instructor, or staff at a clinical facility where the student is assigned:

   1. Have reasonable cause to suspect that the student is mentally or physically impaired due to alcohol or substance abuse immediately prior to or during the performance of his/her clinical duties, or

   2. Perceives the odor of alcohol or observes physical signs and/or behavior including, but not limited to, slurred speech, unsteady gait, confusion, or inability to concentrate.

3. Students will have a blood or urine specimen collected according to current procedures.

4. The student will be removed from client care assignments, pending results of the test(s).

5. Test results will be sent to the Practical Nursing Coordinator or designee.

6. The school will pay for all costs associated with the “for cause” drug-screening test.

Positive Screening Test

1. If the results of the drug screening test is positive and the student provides documentation of a prescription for the substance, the Practical Nursing Coordinator and/or designee will consider the case in collaboration with the student and his/her health care provider. Each student will be asked to disclose prescription and over-the-counter medications he/she is taking at the time of testing.

2. If the results indicate a positive drug screen for alcohol, illegal substances, or medications not prescribed for that individual, the Practical Nursing Coordinator and/or designee will withdraw the student from the nursing program for a period of one year.

3. After a one-year absence from the nursing program, the student may apply for readmission according to the guidelines below:

   1. Must meet the current Northeast Technology Center and Department of Nursing requirements related to registration and admission to the nursing program/nursing assistant course. Readmission for returning students is contingent on space available in the class.

   2. Must provide documentation of evaluation by an addiction counselor and his/her determination as to whether the student is addicted to alcohol drugs. If positive, the student must provide evidence of rehabilitation related to the alcohol/drug illness to include all of the following:

      1. Documentation of satisfactory completion of recognized substance abuse treatment program.

      2. Evidence of after-care attendance upon completion of the treatment program.

      3. Weekly attendance at a 12-step or other mutually agreed upon support group. Attendance will be documented by the student and submitted to the Practical Nursing Coordinator by the last day of each month.

      4. Letter or other acceptable documentation from treatment facility and/or therapist stating that the student would be able to function effectively and provide safe and therapeutic care for clients in a clinical setting.

   3. Students requesting readmission must have a repeat screening for alcohol and/or drugs immediately prior to readmission.

   4. Following readmission to the nursing program, the student will be required to submit to periodic drug screening at the student’s expense.

   5. Following readmission to the nursing program, the student who has been evaluated as having an addiction must continue participation in a 12-step or other mutually agreed upon support group and submit quarterly documentation or he/she will be permanently dismissed.

   6. If a student, after being readmitted to the nursing program, has positive results on an alcohol or drug screening, he/she will be permanently dismissed from the nursing program without opportunity for readmission.

Negative Screening Test

1. If the results of tests indicate a negative drug screen for alcohol or drugs, the student shall meet with the Practical Nursing Coordinator or designee within two working days of the test results to discuss the circumstances surrounding the impaired clinical behavior.

2. If the indicator was the odor of alcohol, the student will be mandated to discontinue the use of the substance that may have caused the alcohol-like odor, before being allowed to return to the clinical setting.

3. If the indicator was behavioral, consideration must be given to a possible medical condition being responsible for the symptoms. A medical referral for evaluation, with a report provided to the Practical Nursing Coordinator or designee, may be requested.

4. Based on the information presented in the meeting, and a medical report if required, the Practical Nursing Coordinator or designee will make a decision regarding return to the clinical setting.

5. If readmitted, the student must make up clinical absences incurred for testing under Section III above.

Confidentiality

All test results will be sent to the Practical Nursing Coordinator or designee. All results will be kept separate from students’ regular files and will be handled in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). The Practical Nursing Coordinator or designee may consult with the Superintendent, nursing faculty, and others for appropriate action/follow-up.

Inability to Submit to a Screening

Inability to submit to a screening test in a timely manner, sections 2 and 3 above, or refusal to submit to a screening test, Sections 2 and 3 above.

If a student in the nursing program is unable to submit to a drug or alcohol screening test in a timely manner, unless due to a documented emergency situation, or refuses to submit to screening, the student will be removed from the nursing program for a period of one year.

Appeals

Appeals follow the usual Northeast Technology Center appeals process.

Guidelines effective: 4/10/17

Alcohol/Drug Test Release and Consent

I authorize _______________ or other medical facility or health care professional designated by Northeast Technology Center, to obtain urine and/or blood specimens from my body for laboratory analysis for the purpose of alcohol and/or drug testing. I authorize release of the results of the test(s) to the Northeast Technology Center Department of Nursing.

This release and consent is subject to the terms and conditions of Northeast Technology Center Department of Nursing Procedure on Screening for Use of Alcohol and Drugs. A photocopy of this authorization may be used if the original is not available.

I understand that my refusal to authorize such examination will subject me to immediate discipline according to the aforementioned Procedure.

I state that the specimen I am providing is in fact from my own body given in this medical facility on this date.

Print Name_____________________________________________ Social Security Number____________________________________________

Date of Birth________________________________________

Signature _______________________________________________ Date____________________________________
I have used the following drugs or medications within the last 30 days. (Include medicines purchased over the counter and those prescribed by a physician or other licensed health care professional. If none, write “none.”)

To be completed only if transport is required:
I authorize personnel designated by Northeast Technology Center to transport me to _____________ or other medical facility for drug and/or alcohol testing. After testing, I agree to accept arranged transportation to the ______________location identified below. I understand that I will be responsible for payment for services rendered.

Signature_______________________________________________ Date_________________________________________
Address______________________________________________________________________________________________

Approved by the Board of Education, April 10, 2017