Student Drug and Alcohol Screening

The practice of professional nursing demands that the clinician be free from the influence of any substance that would impair judgment and thinking ability. As a result, health care agencies are requiring students who work directly with patients to undergo drug screening. Nursing students must also be free from impairing substances. Health care agencies and the SONHS require drug screening of all nursing students prior to their first clinical experience. In addition, SONHS students are subject to screening if either the faculty suspects that the student is impaired at any time on campus, or during any health care experience or any other university or work-related activity. Any student whose test is deemed positive will reported for Code of Conduct. Determination will be made by the Program Director. The SONHS is required to report any positive screens and/or suspicion refusal to the appropriate board.

This policy is designed to identify the procedures to be followed for both types of testing as well as to outline the appeal and readmission to the program.