Marijuana and Nursing School

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I'm sure there is a thread about this but I wanted to establish one specific to my situation.

I am a 20 year old, second year nursing student in a highly competitive nursing program at a four-year private liberal arts college. I do not live on campus, I still live with each of my parents.

I am sure this question will elicit judgemental comments from all walks of life but let me illuminate you on my character-

I do not drink alcohol or party.

I strictly am attending college to better my future and become qualified, you'll hardly catch me socializing. I am extremely school-oriented and maintain a 3.5 gpa.

I study in my free time and work full time as well as attending school full time.

but YES, on occasion I indulge in smoking marijuana for the calming effects it has on my situational anxiety and sleep issues.

So here is my directive.

Do nursing schools TYPICALLY drug test prior to clinicals and how severe are the consequenceswhen testing positive with marijuana?

You know, I do not care what you choose to do.... It is your life.. One blunt hurts you WAYYY more than a cigarette. I am just saying that I care about your health. I see it that way about cigarettes. It is still habit forming in a different way. Just be careful...

Should the drug be illegal? Probably not but it is. Until it is legal, do not use it. If I became sick, I'd use it. I won't ever tell my patients to use it or ask for it unless it becomes legal.

If you get caught, are you prepared for the consequences? Don't say it is unfair as you do not have to smoke as you smoke it occasionally. It is in the end a choice you make. My school does not drug test but only one of the clinical sites do. My work drug tests even for nicotine which is legal so if marijuana becomes over the counter, chances are you still cannot just take it in my state.

I'd personally stop and just do political stuff to try and get the law changed. It is not worth the legal, financial, and embarrassing implications.

Specializes in Hospice.

I would never under any circumstances put anything into my body that would jeopardize my education/career. That includes drinking more than two beers if I am meeting friends, because I don't want to risk a DUI, which would definitely get me kicked out of school or at the very least affect my chances of getting a job when I graduate. I don't know how long marijuana stays in your system, but I think you should stop NOW. How did you pass the drug test to even get into the program? My school tests us after we are accepted and reserves the right to withdraw your acceptance if you fail the drug test. They will also do random tests on you if they have reason to suspect you are using drugs.

Specializes in Med/ Surg/ Telemetry, Public Health.

At my school we are required to take a drug test prior to starting, if you fail you can't start clinical, they send your report to all the hospitals in the area. Also at anytime if a clinical instructor suspects you of drug use, you have to take a random drug test.

What a crappy situation. I know, it seems unfair that you'd have to go and find a more harmful route vs. prescription drugs and costly therapies to "fix" what marijuana already fixes. But unless you want to move to another state where marijuana is legal, and even then deal with the fact that most places still won't let nurses use it (and unlike other drugs, it sticks in your system for a month so it's very likely they'd catch you if they tried), you're SOL.

Just don't listen to all of the negative nancies talking about how marijuana is always a gateway drug to illicit activities and harder drugs. Marijuana is one of the most natural things there is. Anybody who is willing to look at common sense facts can see that for themselves. It has no place among the illegal hard drugs, but America is kind of silly and that's where we're at. Best of luck to you :).

Edit: And yeah, my program tests you before entrance and if you fail the test you're kicked out due to inability to complete clinicals. I know they give random screens and would in a heartbeat if anybody gave them a reason to think someone was compromised.

  • It is ridiculous that marijuana is illegal.
  • Using illegal drugs and nursing don't mix well.
  • You may get drug tested and need to switch careers.
  • Telling a bunch of nurses you use illegal drugs to help with sleep and situational anxiety won't get you a huge amount of credibility. Yup- getting high relieves anxiety, and like many drugs, weed makes you sleepy.

While you didn't ask for personal advice, you did post on the word wide web, and kind of open yourself up to it. If at 20 you need drugs of any kind to feel normal, and to sleep, you should look at the bigger picture. From my perspective you would be in better shape had you said: "Anxiety is a normal emotion, and I have learned to cope with it. I used to have trouble sleeping, but I have changed my exercise and eating habits, and sleep like a baby. But... I sure do like smoking weed and getting high every now and then."

The university program I attended never did a drug test - nor have any of my past work places ever asked for one. Not sure if the situation is different across boarders but here in Canada (Ontario) I've never been asked. However in no way is it legal (although in Canada they seem to be more lax about it but again no excuse). I'm sure if they ever suspected anything they could drug test us anytime. However only heard of that being done on a case by case bases. I would still stop because it is illegal and what's more important to you....having a good career or bonding with Mary Jane every night? I've had to see some of my friends make those choices because in the end you are dealing with people's lives. Would you want your heart surgeon getting high every night?

As far as my school goes: They test randomly once per semester and reserve the right to test randomly at any point. The consequences for testing positive for any controlled substance without a valid prescription are immediate removal from the program and barred for 2 years from reapplying.

So here is my directive.

Do nursing schools TYPICALLY drug test prior to clinicals and how severe are the consequenceswhen testing positive with marijuana?

I think what is more germane to the discussion is what your particular nursing program's policy is.

You need to decide for yourself what level of risk you are willing to take, so it is imperative that you have a clear understanding of the policy of your nursing program as well as the consequences should you test positive for any substance.

Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

I'll be blunt, pardon the pun:

The fact is that you're doing an illegal drug on a regular basis. Your GPA, your social habits, your work habits, your study habits, the fact that you live with mom and dad: all of that does nothing to mitigate that fact, no more so than "dad gave me the beer!" makes underage drinking legal.

Most if not all nursing schools will test you before admission. And they reserve the right to test you randomly. So do the clinical sites. And future employers. None of these entities are going to look at you and say, "aww, it's OK, we're going to let you slide because YOUR case is special" and accept a positive THC result. Because your case isn't special. It isn't unique. It's a common story that is told to schools and employers nearly every week.

The consequences for a positive THC screen...who knows? That's up to your particular school. In my last school, a positive urine for illegal drugs was an automatic "good-bye."

Also, going the "medical reasons" route doesn't work: MJ is schedule I substance so it can't be prescribed; its use can only be recommended. That holds no water when trying to get you off the hook. And should your medical condition truly be severe enough that a doc really does recommend MJ, you are probably not healthy enough to be working anyway.

And this applies even here in CA, where 4/20 is practically a state holiday and you can't swing a cat without hitting a head shop.

The reasons you choose to smoke MJ are your own and I don't pass judgment on that. However, you will find that regular marijuana use and a successful nursing career are incompatible. Even if you get past an initial drug screen, it would be just a matter of time before a random one caught you.

Best of luck whatever you decide.

Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.

but YES, on occasion I indulge in smoking marijuana for the calming effects it has on my situational anxiety and sleep issues.

So here is my directive.

Do nursing schools TYPICALLY drug test prior to clinicals and how severe are the consequenceswhen testing positive with marijuana?

Self medicating is a risky thing in nursing.

Yes schools typically test, or at very least, reserve the right to test if they suspect.

Penalty is removal from the program at best, reported to the BON at worst.

Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.
I'm sure there is a thread about this but I wanted to establish one specific to my situation.

I am a 20 year old, second year nursing student in a highly competitive nursing program at a four-year private liberal arts college. I do not live on campus, I still live with each of my parents.

I am sure this question will elicit judgemental comments from all walks of life but let me illuminate you on my character-

I do not drink alcohol or party.

I strictly am attending college to better my future and become qualified, you'll hardly catch me socializing. I am extremely school-oriented and maintain a 3.5 gpa.

I study in my free time and work full time as well as attending school full time.

but YES, on occasion I indulge in smoking marijuana for the calming effects it has on my situational anxiety and sleep issues.

So here is my directive.

Do nursing schools TYPICALLY drug test prior to clinicals and how severe are the consequenceswhen testing positive with marijuana?

They should! Highly competitive school? Someone would love to have your spot..

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