Pot Smoking and Nursing

[MrsNurseCA]

Im angry.

I work for a small clinic in Northern CA. There are three RN's on staff at all time. Recently our Office Manager decided to start drug testing of all staff including Doctors. Well, one of the Nurses I work with came back positive for marijuana use. My thought was "Well she should not be doing it anyways" I was actually glad to see her get in trouble.

After discusing it with the Doctors they came up with a new unwritten policy. They will overlook marijuana. Basiclly, you can smoke all the pot you want but just on the weekends not during "on call" days. I questioned one of the Doctors about it and his response was to "chill"

Does this seem wrong to anybody else? Do Nurses really smoke pot on there days off?

[misti_z]

I too believe that what a person does away from work is their business. As long as they keep it away from work. I do not smoke now, but in my high school days I did....alot. I, like many of my peers at that time, was very functional. I never missed a day of class and graduated with a 3.7 GPA. And if it were legal I would roll one now seeing as how I have 6 days off and just got home from an awful 12 hour shift. :kiss

[thisnurse]

the alcohol industry (think about how big that is) will NEVER allow pot to be legalized. too much to lose. if pot became legal who would want to drink?

ohbet...i dont know for sure bout that tax cheating thing. ...i only heard about that on the news.

and the nurse practice act....im not sure what that is but i hear its

real real important.

the sicko student wil most likely never get thru school. they are an incompetent human so how could they be anything less in any profession they choose?

[mcl4]

Originally posted by Jay Levan

Hi gang, thought I'd get involved in this one, because I have so much experience on the subject:eek: I began Smokin' when I was 16yrs old, quit twenty years later. Did I need a program to help me quit? answer, NO! Was I addicted? answer, NO! Did I have Withdrawal symptoms? answer, NO! Why did I quit? answer, simple, To Much to lose, if caught!

The U.S. Gov't has been "Studying" marijuanna for over 80 yrs now and what have they deduced?

If your sixteen year old was smoking pot, would you have any concerns?

[Gomer]

TO: MICRO

Sorry, but what you do on your off-hours is your employer's business, IF IT IS ILLEGAL.

If anyone out there wishes to risk their licensure that's up to them...me, I worked to hard and too long to give it up now -- especially for something as silly at pot.

[micro, RN]

gomer.........

thx for speakin directly to me......

what i do away from work .....is my business truly.....as long as it does not impact my work.....

and my work and licensure i take very very very very seriously.........it comes before all,

but I am human.....

and my dust bunnies have names.....floppy, moppy and moe.....but i tangent off again.....gotta go get more dandelions.....

lol,

micro

[Gomer]

Micro -- you might want to check with your BON as they might have other ideas. Example: I know an RN who was enjoying a bright sunny day, working in his garden, having a few beers. He decided to make a quick run to the store, got pulled over by the PD, got a DUI (only had 2 beers, but the warm sunny day and the beer combo did him in), and had his license suspended for 1 year.

Also, your employer may have a morals clause (sometimes found in the mission statement, sometimes in the employee handbook or personnel policies) which might say, "...comply with federal, state and local laws..." or "...promote the highest standards or ethics and integrity."

I know I wont change your mind, so I wish you luck and hope if you do get caught (not that you ever do anything illegal), you find a kind judge and and understanding BON.

[micro, RN]

sorry, micro steps out of this argument.....should have never got in.........

no i don't do anything illegal.....except have a lead foot not under the influence except of working way too many hours sometimes.........

gomer, no disrespect.....see valid points more your way than the other.........you gotta read between the dots with micro.........

but i is who is is.........so i step.........

but what i do do behind closed doors,etc on my own time is indeed my own business...........like right now.........

OUT

[Jay Levan]

Originally posted by mcl4

Originally posted by Jay Levan

Hi gang, thought I'd get involved in this one, because I have so much experience on the subject:eek: I began Smokin' when I was 16yrs old, quit twenty years later. Did I need a program to help me quit? answer, NO! Was I addicted? answer, NO! Did I have Withdrawal symptoms? answer, NO! Why did I quit? answer, simple, To Much to lose, if caught!

The U.S. Gov't has been "Studying" marijuanna for over 80 yrs now and what have they deduced?

If your sixteen year old was smoking pot, would you have any concerns?

mcl4, First, let me say that if you believe that you or any other parent can watch their children 24/7 I believe you have missed the train:eek: Second, Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe that alcohol is "Illegal for anyone under the age of 21yrs of age Can you estimate how many teens in this country are partaking of alcoholic beverages? Third, I am concerned for all children, not just my own, and certainly would not recommend any substance to any Child, however when they become "Old enough to Die for their Country" I believe they also should be granted the right to choose their own form of relaxation, meditation, and yes even which drug they wish to choose. Are you aware that anyone can now walk into any E.R. and claim Pain at a "10" level and get anything they want, Morphine, Demerol, Dilaudid, if they play a little game called "This medicine is not Helping I need something Stronger." Until the M.D. gives them what they want!??? OSHA says "Only patient can evaluate his/her pain:confused: Is that OK?

[thisnurse]

yeah micro so there

i think nurses are getting out of hand. everything we do impacts our patients. even the way we wipe after going to the bathroom. im all for cameras in every nurses bathroom not only for the wipe check, but the thorough hand washing technique.

we need to keep an eye on each other too. we have that obligation to our patients. next time im at the grocery store and i see a nurse with ding dongs or ho hos im going to make her put them back. i owe it to my patients and she owes it to hers.

we need to start living an example. i wouldnt want any fat nurse taking care of me. it would take her extra time to get to me if i coded.

i believe nurses should have to live in group homes, like convents.

that way we can watch each other and our employers can keep tabs on us on duty and off. in addition we should be required to wear our uniforms on duty and off. we need to remember who we are and what we do. we need to remind everyone else as well.

nurses shouldnt be allowed to have spouses or kids either. it takes away time that we need to continue our education and devote ourselves wholly to our patients.

we should have to keep a mandated log that we have to compare with our nurse practice act. this will help us ensure we are living accordingly.

micro you need to be ashamed of your dust bunnies. you might carry a fiber to work with you one day that could get caught in one of your patients bronchioles and cause respiratory arrest.

we are after all not a part of the general population, we are much better than that. we answer to a higher calling and we need to live good clean healthy lifestyles.

herees some ideas for you...this is what i do....

on my mirror i have a note that says....WHAT CAN YOU DO FOR YOUR PATIENTS TODAY?

i was going to have that tattooed on my arm but realized tattoos are against hospital policy ....self mutilation....

on my bathroom mirror, right accross from the toilet i have our nurse practice act. i am in the process of memorizing it word for word. that way not only will i be in check, but i can watch all my coworkers too and let them know when they are out of line.

these two little tricks help get me thru my days on duty and off.

nursing isnt just a profession, like i used to think, its a whole lifestyle.

maybe if we all can get our acts together we will get a raise and someday make 17 bucks an hour.

in the meantime, lets keep watching each other and policing each other. it keeps our minds off silly things like nurse/patient ratios, understaffing, long hours, and other so called safety issues that supposedly comprimise care.

and for goodness sake, LEARN THAT PRACTICE ACT!

you have a duty to your patients, yuourselves and your coworkers.

AMEN

[nurs4kids]

AWESOME, thisnurse!!! I second that AMEN!

[Jay Levan]

Jay's back, workin on another 24hr day:eek: So please forgive me if I seem a little slow on the uptake:stone Would it be possible to get a concensus on the subject of Marijuanna for Medical use? I know there is a vast population of patients for whom conventional anti-emetics are ineffective, including patients with HIV, Cancer, HCV, to name three. I am also acutely aware that there is a large population of nurses who have aquired two of these diseases "On the Job" Also anyone who reads, knows that Marijuanna has been "Legal" in many States, for over thirty years, this fact creates an acute contradiction as to marijuanna's

status as an evil drug vs. an accepted practice, doesn't it:confused: If as the FEDS say, it is a "Doorway, or Springboard" drug why haven't these states experienced a huge exaserbation in illegal drug use. If they have, the public is certainly not being informed, about something that would surely strengthen the FEDS position on this subject:confused: I am from New York originally, and as far as I know, they have never Legalized Pot. Conversely most people seem to want to blame California for their liberalness in legalizing Pot use, when they are one of the newest states to legalize Pot:confused: I am very tired naturally, but I believe I am nailing the reasons for our diversity of opinion on this "Hot" subject. There is so much conflicting information on the subject, as well as misinformation, inuendo, rumor, and yes even bald-faced lies, and propaganda, put out by the Law enforcement community. I also take exception to anyone who continues to offer schizophrenia as an end result of using Pot. Actually the reverse is true in many cases, most of these patients (if one takes the time to interview them) will tell you that they tried the drug to help stop the voices, and was usually suggested by a friend or relative, in the hope that it would help them rid themselves of their demons. Also the statistical information from the Feds was founded on "We'll reduce your sentence if you admit that Pot made you break the Law." Well I've gone about as far as I can today on No Sleep Will respond to any direct questions about my opinion after a nap:cool:

[micro, RN]

this nurse...........i am at your feet..........you floor me..............thx for synopsis of the nurse's life.......knew I was getting it wrong somewhere.............floppy, moppy and moe die today.........LMAO

Jayrborn.....thx for threadin' good thoughts and facts also.....

as on weekend off and can actually walk upright this a.m. .....so will have to get back to you on further serious thought.......but would it take away this remaining back stiffness.....heheehehehe