Drug and Alcohol Testing

Southeast Community College Health Sciences Division

Student and Clinical Faculty Drug Screening Information and Procedures

Education of Health Science students at Southeast Community College requires collaboration between the college and clinical facilities. The educational process for these students cannot be completed without a quality clinical rotation. The college shares an obligation with the clinical facility to protect all patients from harm due to students who are under the influence of illegal drugs or alcohol while in the clinical facility.   The clinical facilities require that Southeast Community College obtain a negative drug screen on each student prior to that student arriving at the clinical facility for his/her clinical rotation and that such students be drug and alcohol free while at a clinical facility.

Guidelines for Drug Testing

1. Students admitted to a Health Sciences program at Southeast Community College that requires a clinical rotation at a contracted healthcare facility will be required to submit to initial drug and alcohol testing prior to the first clinical rotation.
2. Drug and alcohol testing will be conducted according to the procedures and standards specified by the affected clinical facility. Only drug and alcohol tests conducted by college authorized agencies will be accepted. Cost of the drug test ($35.00) will be paid by the student directly to the authorized agency as directed by the College.
3. Further drug testing and or alcohol testing may be required of the student for cause. This testing will be required at the discretion of the college or the clinical agency. Cost ($35.00) of the drug or alcohol testing will be the responsibility of the student.
4. All Health Science students will be tested for the following drug categories: amphetamines/methamphetamines, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, cocaine and metabolites, marijuana metabolites, opiates, phencyclidine, and propoxyphene. This list is subject to change. Testing for additional substances may occur based on clinical affiliation agreement requirements.
5. The student must provide written consent to provide specimens for the purpose of analysis and release of information to Southeast Community College. If the student is under eighteen (18) years of age, the parent or legal guardian must sign the drug and alcohol testing consent form in addition to the student. The consent form will be provided by the authorized agency the day of the appointment.
6. Students have the right to refuse to consent to drug and alcohol testing. However, students who decline will not be able to start or complete a clinical rotation and will be unable to achieve the required clinical experience for that program/course. The refusal to consent to drug or alcohol testing may result in a student being dismissed from the program.
7. The student will be provided with an instructional sheet of acceptable drug screening vendors, payment instructions, and procedural information.
8. Notification indicating a “Negative” drug screen or “Further Testing Required” will be sent to the Dean of Health Sciences at Southeast Community College.
9. The Medical Review Officer from the authorized agency will contact the student directly if “Positive” or “Further Testing Required” is noted.
10. The results will be reviewed by the Dean of Health Sciences for verification and placement purposes.
11. Students will not be allowed to hand deliver drug screening test results to the Dean of Health Sciences.
12. Any student who tests positive for a prohibited drug will be given the opportunity to contest the results, if the failure is due to justifiable prescription drug use. If the failure is due to justifiable prescription drug use, the student may be permitted to participate in the clinical program of the affected facility if it is determined that the student may safely do so without jeopardizing patient safety. It is the student’s responsibility to provide proper documentation if he/she has failed the drug screen due to justifiable drug use.
13. If the positive test is not due to justifiable prescription drug use, the student will meet with the Dean of the Health Sciences Division to discuss withdrawal from the designated Health Program. Depending on the circumstances, a positive drug or alcohol test may make it impossible to place a student in a clinical setting and could result in the student being dismissed from the program.
14. Students could apply for re-admission into a health program. The College will determine in its discretion whether a student will be readmitted based on among other things the circumstances relating to the failed drug or alcohol test and the ability of the College to place the student in an appropriate clinical setting. Re-admission would be based upon the next possible program in-take date (approximately 1 to 2 quarters) and completion of additional drug testing.
15. Depending on the circumstances, the results of a positive drug or alcohol test may be communicated to law enforcement authorities, the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, or other state agencies.
16. The cost of drug and alcohol testing is provided for informational purposes only and is subject to being increased from time to time.