URGENT question about pot smoking please read!

Nurses General Nursing

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Hey everyone

I am starting nursing school in two weeks, and I was wondering if they do drug tests before or during the courses.

On occasion, some of my friends and I may smoke up for a bit. harmless, we BARELY do it, maybe a few times a year. BUT, I'm worried that perhaps I'll get screened and be denied into the program or something....

I don't have a criminal record, or anything like that. I'm just wondering if smoking pot could get you a denial into the course.

Specializes in MICU, neuro, orthotrauma.
Originally posted by Eddye

you guys and gals are all CRAZY!!! as for that matter, no hospitals or other employers do either. so go ahead, fire it up!! .

um what?

here in houston texas, i was tested for illegal drug use at my job. no if's and's or but's about it.

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I think Eddye was being sarcastic.

I won't share my opinion on how stupid it is to live your life impaired by drugs, or how drugs can make you make bad decisions.

The point is, it is illegal. If you are in a position to take care of others and guide them on making healthy decisions, it it hypocritical to then go home and get high.

Nursing is stressful and emotionally taxing. I'm sure every nurse would love to toke up and forget the problems of the day. But they don't. They are brave and thick-skinned and that's what makes them nurses.

I would not want a pothead nurse taking care of me any more than I'd want an alcoholic nurse. Someone that unstable shouldn't take care of others, in my opinion.

I guess I, personally, hold nursing and nurses to a higher standard than other jobs. I think nurses dispense health care and advice and should make great lengths to live a healthy lifestyle.

God, I'm such an idealist.

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Specializes in Gerontological, cardiac, med-surg, peds.

This shouldn't even be an issue. You should not even be thinking about smoking marijuana if you are going be a nurse.

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I wanted to let you know how things work at my school (US) and offer another perspective.

At my school they don't right off the bat drug test everyone. If they have reason to suspect that you are abusing drugs though, they do have the right to send you to a physcian for a physical and drug screen.

The also have the right to boot you out of the program if your conviction/back ground status should change, ie. you get arrested/convicted of a felony, which at this time still includes illegal drug use for those of you in Canada and certainly in the US.

So, lets say you and some friends are smoking in a dorm room, in your car, at a park or even at a party at someone's apartment. And then, lets say you get busted by a Resident Assistant or a cop and they press charges against you for illegal drug use/possession. You would have to notify the school board, an investigation would take place, and they would issue a judgement to either kick you out of the program or let you continue.

Now, lets say they let you continue in the program. You still may not be able to take the NCLEX anytime soon after graduation, if at all. So all the time, money and hard work spent in the education program would be for not.

Now, even if they don't drug test is it still worth it to take that risk?

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Specializes in MICU, neuro, orthotrauma.
Originally posted by Cassiggity

I think Eddye was being sarcastic.

I won't share my opinion on how stupid it is to live your life impaired by drugs, or how drugs can make you make bad decisions.

The point is, it is illegal. If you are in a position to take care of others and guide them on making healthy decisions, it it hypocritical to then go home and get high.

Nursing is stressful and emotionally taxing. I'm sure every nurse would love to toke up and forget the problems of the day. But they don't. They are brave and thick-skinned and that's what makes them nurses.

I would not want a pothead nurse taking care of me any more than I'd want an alcoholic nurse. Someone that unstable shouldn't take care of others, in my opinion.

I guess I, personally, hold nursing and nurses to a higher standard than other jobs. I think nurses dispense health care and advice and should make great lengths to live a healthy lifestyle.

God, I'm such an idealist.

they should have a sarcasm smilie. either that or i should cultivate more faith in humanity.

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I don't see as you'd have too much to wory about, law wise. If you were south of the border I'd say otherwise. But I agree with hobbes, smoking up isn't the greatest thing to be doing if you plan on using your wits for a living.

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I will re-iterate: Regardless of what the law says or what your school may or may not test for, the REAL issue is that you are risking a career. Would you want YOUR nurse to be under the influence of pot or anything else???

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Specializes in CICu, ICU, med-surg.

Wow, talk about beating a dead horse...

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So, did you decide to smoke?

Or did you listen to all this good advice?

steph

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The short-term effects of marijuana include:

problems with memory and learning;

distorted perception (sights, sounds, time, touch);

trouble with thinking and problemsolving;

loss of motor coordination; and

increased heart rate.

The short-term effects of marijuana include:

Athletes could find their performance is off; timing, movements, and coordination are all affected by THC. Also, since marijuana can affect judgment and decisionmaking, its use can lead to risky sexual behavior, resulting in exposure to sexually transmitted diseases like HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

Lungs and airways

Lungs and airways--People who smoke marijuana often develop the same kinds of breathing problems that cigarette smokers have: coughing and wheezing. They tend to have more chest colds than nonusers. They are also at greater risk of getting lung infections like pneumonia.

Immune system

Animal studies have found that THC can damage the cells and tissues in the body that help protect against disease. When the immune cells are weakened you are more likely to get sick.

If someone is high on marijuana, he or she might

seem dizzy and have trouble walking;

seem silly and giggly for no reason;

have very red, bloodshot eyes; and

have a hard time remembering things that just happened.

When the early effects fade, over a few hours, the user can become very sleepy.

How does marijuana affect driving?

A: Marijuana has serious harmful effects on the skills required to drive safely: alertness, the ability to concentrate, coordination, and the ability to react quickly. Marijuana use can make it difficult to judge distances and react to signals and sounds on the road.

(To the poster who didn't think pot affects driving):

Marijuana may play a role in car accidents. In one study conducted in Memphis, TN, researchers found that, of 150 reckless drivers who were tested for drugs at the arrest scene, 33 percent tested positive for marijuana, and 12 percent tested positive for both marijuana and cocaine. Data have also shown that while smoking marijuana, people show the same lack of coordination on standard "drunk driver" tests as do people who have had too much to drink

.

Smoking marijuana causes some changes in the brain that are like those caused by cocaine, heroin, and alcohol. Scientists are still learning about the many ways that marijuana can affect the brain.

****************************************

OH YEAH, sounds like "nurse material" to me.

:rolleyes:

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well ive decided against doing it again.

not worth the risk of getting kicked out.

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Originally posted by Agnus

I am answering before I read what others have said to you.

You are in denial. Unless you get over your denial and face the facts of life squarely like an adult then you do not belong in Nursing. "harmless, we BARELY do it maybe a few time a year."

I guarentee you will find sympathizers on this board. Whether they agree or not they are in denial as well.

FACT it is NOT harmless

FACT it is ILLEGAL

FACT breaking the law is NOT HARMLESS

I will not provide you information to help you get around the law, nor around school policies so that you can become a nurse.

YOU SHOULD BE Worried. What worries me more about your using is NOT the fact you are using, but is the fact you will not acknowlege that it is not a harmless substance and that it is a Criminal act and there is no place in nursing for people who engage in criminal activity no matter how "harmless.". GET some help if you need to, inorder to get off it. If you don't need help then stop. If you can stop there is no reason for you to be posting such a question.

I know you will ignore me but I could not ignore your question.

P. S. I just went back after posting this and read your subsequent posts. What makes you think Alcohol is harmless? What makes you think it is O. K. to drink and work too?

If if is going to be decriminalized then Why are you worried? I think you already know the answers. Again I could not resist.

the fact of the matter is, like the other guy posted on here which made good points, it has no 'hangover' effect like booze does. I'd rather have a surgeon who smoked pot the night before operating on me than a surgeon who is on a HUGE HANGOVER form the night before.

His decision, on his time. doesn't effect work.

but whatever. I'm not 'addicted' to it. i said i used it a few times a year. that is hardly a problem in my books.

im not going to do it again, so it's all good.

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