Mercy Medical Center – Des Moines announced that it will implement a nicotine-free hiring policy at all of its medical facilities, beginning on July 1. Under the new policy, all physicians, nurses and other individuals who apply for a position will be tested for nicotine as part of the pre-employment screening process. Those who test positive for nicotine will be eliminated from consideration with the option to reapply after six months. “By implementing a nicotine-free hiring policy, Mercy will be expecting its employees to model the same healthy behaviors it encourages of its patients and their family members,” said Robyn Wilkinson, Mercy’s chief human resources officer, in a release. The organization said it’s the first Iowa Hospital Association member to institute a nicotine-free hiring policy.