Published
It was allowed in one nursing home where I've worked. The resident was A & O and could smoke independently, although his MM and paraphernalia were kept in the med cart and signed out each time he went outside. Funny how many staff members could be found out there with him on breaks---not smoking ganja themselves, just basking in the aroma.
Naturally, his use of marijuana had to be approved by the DHS and meticulously careplanned. (That would've been interesting from the standpoint of a surveyor.) It CAN be done; it's just not simple.
My residents are not allowed to go out to smoke alone---ever. And staff members are not allowed to go with the resident. If they don't have a family member or friend who can take them out, they don't smoke...anything. We are not going to change our smoking policy to accommodate marijuana.
Personally I have nothing against medical marijuana. I had chemo therapy years ago. My doctor suggested I find some marijuana to use if the nausea got really bad since it works better than any legal drug. I had 2 kids at home under the age of two so going through the day high wouldn't have been a good thing!
I do think, however, that since we are a medical facility, we should ban smoking all together.
Viva commented about the issue of second hand smoke - I wondered about that too.
I really don't know if institutions would be able to provide safe and therapeutic management. I can just see all the negative potential possibilities.
And who will have to monitor all the safeguards put into place? Something else for nurses to get hung up for.
Enthused RN, BSN, RN
299 Posts
Is this allowed in any nursing home? There was a recent incident that makes me wonder about it since it's considered a legal drug in some instances.