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?

Specializes in kids.

IMHO I think ALCOHOL is much more of a "gateway drug" than pot......

However, in the eyes of the law, MY OPINION does not matter.

YOUR school ( and the clinical affiliates) policy is what DOES matter.

If you are self medicating, I would encourage you to get to the root of the issue and maybe look at a more holistic approach.

Good luck!

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In my opinion, its all up to what is more important to you. If you smoke pot, then you carry that positive result with you no matter where you work, go to school, etc. If smoking pot and having that risk is okay with you then fine, but you can't be shocked when a drug test pops up and you're screwed. In my program as well as at my job (a hospital), if any accident happens then all of those involved are drug tested on site, and you never know when that could happen. I smoked in my first few years of college and I quit simply because it wasn't worth it to me to get high and have that risk carried around with me, for basically nothing. And being a former smoker, I'm iffy about that self medicating...I don't believe marijuana is in the same league as say, Xanax, so if you're really having anxiety that requires treatment, I agree with the others that you should see a doc.

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Specializes in Forensic Psych.
IMHO I think ALCOHOL is much more of a "gateway drug" than pot......

However, in the eyes of the law, MY OPINION does not matter.

YOUR school ( and the clinical affiliates) policy is what DOES matter.

If you are self medicating, I would encourage you to get to the root of the issue and maybe look at a more holistic approach.

Good luck!

I think the "gateway" is the propensity to self-medicate...regardless of what you medicate with. Anyone who's ever chased a high knows it takes more of whatever you're using or a shift to something stronger to keep it up.

No big deal if I'm just having a few drinks with friends at lunch every once in a while . It's a much bigger deal if I need it to help with my depression/anxiety/insomnia/WHATever.

I've done my fair share of illegal things, but I never used them for anything other than partying, so when I stopped partying and moved on with life I easily left all that behind.

I do, however, have to watch my alcohol intake. I use wine to help me relax, get rid of some anxiety, and sleep - if that's not kept in check, who knows? Maybe just more wine would be needed? Maybe I'd have to switch to pills? I do know I wouldn't switch to cocaine or meth...that would just increase my problems :)

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Specializes in oncology, MS/tele/stepdown.

It does not matter how much you use it, why you use it, or whether you think it should be illegal or not. If you use an illegal drug and get caught, you will have to deal with the consequences. I was tested before the school year began both years of nursing school and once before working in the hospital, but not when I became a nurse (which I thought was strange, but I had already worked there as an extern, so maybe they only require one). My good friend smoked all through school and after graduation. It just isn't worth getting caught, in my opinion. Check your code of conduct, I'm sure they have the consequences listed there.

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As soon I found out about that I was accepted to my nursing program about a month ago I quit smoking pot... I've been using for 10 years at least. Regardless of why you use it, there's no point in doing it because all the hard work and effort you go into being a nurse goes down the drain.

Clinicals for me don't start until December so I'm hoping it'll be out of my system by then! But, first thing they told me was I was required to get was a drug test before my second semester.

Find a therapist, journal, exercise... If the going gets rough and your state allows it then maybe ask a psych to prescribe it but heck you might not even need it, which is a good thing!

Also, the consequences seem rather obvious. At this point worry less about that and focus on the good that can come from not smoking pot.

Now I don't even want it. The smell isn't a intoxicating as it used to be. To know there is a chance for me to make a real difference in this world just makes pot less attractive. I'm all about decriminalizing but in our roles as healthcare providers we can't take those risks like everyone else.

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Specializes in hospice.

People talking about whether it's legal in whatever state, by whatever mechanism (all out legal or doc recommendations, etc) are forgetting one very important thing: even people with medical marijuana cards can lose their jobs for testing positive. Employers have no obligation to accept drug users in their ranks, regardless of the reason the person thinks they need marijuana. I've met marijuana users. If I were an employer (or running a nursing school) you'd be out as soon as I was sure you were using it. I'm sorry but there is a set of characteristics that ride along with marijuana use, and I haven't seen any that are good. And it's still illegal. Just because this administration chooses not to enforce the law doesn't mean the next one will make the same choice.

As many people have pointed out, you need to make a choice as to which is more important to you: your dope or your career.

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As a comedian I once heard say (probably Doug Benson) saying that marijuana is a gateway drug because everyone who does heroin started with marijuana is like saying kissing is a gateway to rape because everyone who rapes started with kissing.[/quote']

Lmao!

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Drug users DO NOT belong in nursing school. Plain and simple.

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Before I started nursing school I was an over the road truck driver for 20 years. Because I retain my Commercial Driver's License (CDL) I am still held to the higher standards of a truck driver even in my personal vehicle, which means that if I blow a .04 or higher on a breathalyzer I will lose my driver's license. .01-.03 I receive a very expensive ticket and I would have an alcohol offense on my license. Because of these facts, I rarely drink and I NEVER drink and drive, even if it is only one beer. I NEVER drink, even a single beer, within 24 hours of getting into a commercial vehicle. I have learned to live my life according to the rules of my profession and as a nurse I will hold myself to the same standards I held myself to as a truck driver. That is what you do as an adult and a professional. Deal with it.

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Specializes in kids.
I think the "gateway" is the propensity to self-medicate...regardless of what you medicate with. Anyone who's ever chased a high knows it takes more of whatever you're using or a shift to something stronger to keep it up.

No big deal if I'm just having a few drinks with friends at lunch every once in a while . It's a much bigger deal if I need it to help with my depression/anxiety/insomnia/WHATever.

I've done my fair share of illegal things, but I never used them for anything other than partying, so when I stopped partying and moved on with life I easily left all that behind.

I do, however, have to watch my alcohol intake. I use wine to help me relax, get rid of some anxiety, and sleep - if that's not kept in check, who knows? Maybe just more wine would be needed? Maybe I'd have to switch to pills? I do know I wouldn't switch to cocaine or meth...that would just increase my problems :)

Not sure I was clear....I meant that I have seen many more (negative) life altering decisions/choices made when under the influence of alcohol than when under the influence of pot. Not a choice I would make for myself, but many do. I don't party with drugs, I do drink but do not put myself in position that will negatively impact me or anone else.

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Specializes in Emergency Room.

Our clinical sites never tested us. We were required to take a drug test for our school before we started the program and before we started our 2nd year which was halfway into the program. So we had plenty of knowledge ahead of time.

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.

I know where you're coming from, I do not think weed is a gateway drug or so bad. While others believe you should see a doctor for your problems & maybe you should. It's your life & your choice. I don't know where you live & what the laws are, but if you take a drug test & come up positive the likelihood is you will be dropped from the program.

I have no problem with anyone that smokes weed. I have done it before & I have never done any other drugs. How many people do you hear on the news at night were high on weed when something happened? Almost never. You hear other stories of people getting DUIs, killed by drunk drivers or doing stupid things under the influence of alcohol/various other drugs.

Basically it boils down to, right now it is illegal & frowned upon. If you take a drug test in school or at work you will be let go. Maybe in the future it won't be.

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