Nicotine testing in EMS

[sjukrabilalfur]

How prevalent is nicotine testing in EMS hiring these days? I know it's becoming increasingly common in hospital systems and certain public safety services.

I may have some self serving reasons for asking this question. I recently got hired on to a private EMS company. I'll be taking the PAT and probably taking their drug test in about a week. I don't do drugs and I haven't had any alcohol in two years, but I've been gradually coming off of the vape/e-cig. I know nicotine testing doesn't differentiate between cigarettes, vapes, the patch, or gum. If this proves to be an issue with my prospective employer I guess I'll have to man up and take the consequences.

 

[Chewy20]

I mean I don't see them not hiring you for it. In my department they are going to start taking I believe $12 a pay period (two weeks) if you use tobacco products.

 

[DesertMedic66]

For us we get a little discount on health insurance for it but there is no testing done by the company.

We have a handful of employees who smoke and a whole crap load who chew

 

[TransportJockey]

For private companies it seems to be 100% variable as to if they do tobacco testing. With e-cigs making an entry into the market, some companies are leaving them alone and only penalizing people who smoke actual tobacco

 

[J B]

Jeez wow, I've never even heard of this. I'm in the northeast and probably 2/3's of EMTs I know smoke.

 

[TransportJockey]

I mean I don't see them not hiring you for it. In my department they are going to start taking I believe $12 a pay period (two weeks) if you use tobacco products.

There are some agencies, including civil service that will not hire you if you use tobacco. Period

 

[sjukrabilalfur]

There are some agencies, including civil service that will not hire you if you use tobacco. Period

Bingo.

I don't -necessarily- think this is going to be an issue with the company that gave me the offer, but I'm still putting a hard stop on inhaling anything other than fresh air from here going forward because I frankly don't want to risk it either on drug test day (in 5 days) or at any point in the future.

 

[Bruno]

Hello, anyone know anything about nicotine testing for Premier in Brea?
I'm a former smoker (long ago) but still chew the gum and am concerned it'll be tested for and knock me off being hired.

 

[Chewy20]

youll be fine

 

[Calico]

I've never heard of this either. o.0 Good grief, I'm hard-pressed to find an EMT/FF who doesn't smoke/vape to some degree. I give them props for the creative lengths they'll go to in order to smoke at the hospital after transport. Otherwise...yeesh. I wish we had testing for this.

But at any rate, if you explain that you have the gum and are trying to quit, I don't see how it could be an issue because you are trying to kick the habit and employers should understand it's a process. Especially if you really are trying to quit (and not "addicted to rehab" as it were), then you should be fine.

 

[TattooedNay]

Yep, this test does exist. Quit for a week and it won't show up.

 

[medicdan]

One of the services I work for is going to start testing and coaching to quit as a workplace health/insurance measure, optionally for now...

 

[Jason]

The hospital I work for does nicotine testing. (+)nicotine = no hire. Only staff that were hired before the policy got to stay. All new hires are tested. And we have no designated smoking areas for anyone. There is also a smoking question on our health insurance. If you say yes, then it costs more.

 

[Bruno]

Appreciate all the replies.. I've stopped the gum anyway.