No opinions please just facts

malenurse69, MSN, NP · Jan 9, 2014

Grow up, ditch the drugs, and fully embrace your future professional healthcare career.

Cobweb · Jan 9, 2014

Ninety percent or more of random drug screens are urine tests. They don't actually test for pot, they test for pot metabolites. Marijuana metabolites can remain in the urine for two or three weeks after consumption. According to an article Smoking 'legalized' marijuana can still get you fired - Fortune Management THC can stay in your bloodstream for up to 6 weeks. Even in states where marijuana is legal, using it can still get you fired. Although marijuana is legal in 2 states, using it is still against federal law.

I, personally, don't care about people using pot, and have less prejudice against potheads than drunks or prescription drug stoners. However, emergency rooms are full of people who will tell you that they are not the slightest bit impaired. While many work environments will become more tolerant to people who use marijuana, I suspect that nursing will not. Many nurses (and doctors) are addicts, but in my experience they tend to use more conventional drugs and are very conservative about what other people use ?

Here is a good link about the actual test: http://jobsearchtech.about.com/od/laborlaws/l/aa090301_3.htm

If you fail a pre-employment drug test, you will not get hired. I have never heard of anybody getting hired after failing that one. If you become injured and fail your drug test, some state or local laws will allow your employer to deny you unemployment, workmen's comp, or disability. If you refuse a drug test (and you do have the right to refuse), that's an automatic guilty as far as most employers are concerned. It is very unlikely that your employer will call the police, although I have known it to happen. However, carrying drugs to work (legal or not!) is generally a really bad idea.

Edit: That last article says that metabolites may remain in your specimen for as long as 11 weeks. I would not care to risk my hard-earned BSN by smoking a joint. If marijuana is so important to you that you would risk years of schooling and tens of thousands of dollars of school tuition, you may wish to reconsider your field of endeavour.

applewhitern, BSN, RN · Jan 9, 2014

My only comment on this matter is that every hospital I have worked at performed random drug screens. If your name was randomly selected, you were immediately escorted straight to the lab for a urine drug screen. I agree with Cobweb's post.

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Jan 9, 2014

One gives up their personal rights to do as they please when you hold a professional licnese: must meet Board of Nursing (BON) criteria to obtain AND maintain licensure. Aim of BON is to protect the public. Illegal drugs and even being under the effects of prescribed meds can get your license application denied, or license suspended or revoked.

Emergent, RN · Jan 9, 2014

I'll tell you a fact. Marijuana affects short term memory and concentration, both important faculties needed in nursing.

BrandonLPN, LPN · Jan 9, 2014

Even if marijuana were to be legalized nationally, each state's BON has the right to set it's own professional standards. Ditto for employers.

casi, ASN, RN · Jan 9, 2014

As long as you come up positive you can't prove that you're not currently under the influence. Health care employers can't risk having staff under the influence. This includes legal drugs with the illegal.

blondy2061h, MSN, RN · Jan 9, 2014

Regarding marijuana being "criminalized" by employees despite being legal in 2 state (which I noted you don't live in one of), just look at tobacco. Tobacco is legal in all 50 states, but smokers still face many consequences of their choice to use that drug, in increased insurance cost, and many employers now testing for tobacco and not hiring smokers.

Almost all employers drug test. It's almost always a urine or blood test done on employee health. If you test positive, you'll be unhireable, even if you did live in a legalized state.

No idea on the license issues.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Jan 9, 2014

Welcome to AN! The largest online nursing community!

wheresmyrights said:
First off, I've seen a TON of curious posters get flamed like crazy on these boards about asking questions related to marijuana use. I am not asking for your opinion, I am asking for facts. I am currently a nursing student, and just got a job in anesthesia in a hospital. I have a variety of questions because I am really upset over the fact that, and especially as marijuana becomes legalized in several states, it is still tested for and criminalized. I have a few questions just regarding people with experience, and again, I dont want people to say to lay off smoking. I havent because of this. And its making life less enjoyable.
First:
As a CNA, if you have to take a random drug test and fail for marijuana, what are the consequences? (I get that you can get fired or suspended, I'm asking in certification regards) and will this carry over to your nursing license? Nebraska if that helps.
Second: What states or facilities arent currently drug testing?
Third: What is the process of random drug testing like?
I have zero interest in other drugs. I would also never come to work under the influence. So I dont need flaming or trolling for people wanting to tell me I'm a bad person for what I do solely in the privacy of my own home. Are there positions in healthcare that I can get with this degree and not be subject to RANDOM drug tests? I will be getting a BSN if that helps. (Pre-employments are fine, if you can't hold off on the grass long enough to pass that at least then I consider that a problem)
Thank you so much for honest answers.

First of all...I think marijuana should be legalized, taxed and sold....just like alcohol. But just like alcohol there are consequences if your are caught impaired...and until a reliable test is available that can discern the level of impairment versus used 3 days ago....pot will remain an absolute contraindication to a nursing license.

We have another thread concurrently aboutt this.....https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/cannabis-healthcare-2014-a-896763.html

That being said....the federal government still considers marijuana illegal and while they are not enforcing federal law in the states that have approved the legalization of marijuana.....doesn't mean that it is legal.

Quote
Washington (CNN) -- The Justice Department said it won't challenge state laws that legalize marijuana and will focus federal enforcement on serious trafficking cases and keeping the drug away from children.
Attorney General Eric Holder, in a conference call Thursday morning, notified the governors of Colorado and Washington that the department, for now, will not seek to pre-empt those states' laws, which followed voters' approval of ballot measures that legalized recreational marijuana use.
Marijuana will remain illegal under the federal Controlled Substances Act.
Under the new guidelines, federal prosecutors are required to focus on eight enforcement priorities, including preventing marijuana distribution to minors, preventing drugged driving, stopping drug trafficking by gangs and cartels and forbidding the cultivation of marijuana on public lands.
The guidelines, issued by Deputy Attorney General James Cole, have been months in the making and took on some urgency after citizens in Colorado and Washington approved the ballot measures last fall. Nineteen states and the District of Columbia allow some legal use of marijuana, primarily for medicinal purposes.
The attorney general told the Washington and Colorado governors that the Justice Department will work with the states to craft regulations that fall in line with the federal priorities, and reserves the right to try to block the laws if federal authorities find repeated violations.
No federal challenge to pot legalization in 2 states - CNN.com

As an illegal substance the nursing board WILL take action and prevent/suspend/revoke/discipline a nurses license.

Having a certification/license that involves the care of the general public you WILL held to a different standard than the general public. Just like airline pilots, police officers, public transportation drivers, FAA employess and many other professional you will be subject to random drug/alcohol screenings and can be fired, license revoked and disciplined by the state and federal guidelines. Many states have it in their license policies that even people who have medical Cannabis cannot hold a license and can be refused employment and placed into a monitoring program...AT YOUR EXPENSE...which may or may NOT reinstate your license.

Drug screens are RANDOM for a reason. To protect the public and.....To catch you. You will be subjected to random screenings at some facilities...you will have to be screened for any new employment, admittance to school, any time you make an error, be injured on the job and in general anytime the facility deems it fit that you need to be tested.

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I am really upset over the fact that, and especially as marijuana becomes legalized in several states, it is still tested for and criminalized.

it is still criminalized because technically it is still "illegal". Nurses can be fired/disciplined for even legal substances and those that have a prescription because they serve the public and the public safety comes first. There are responsibilities and sacrifices that you have to make in becoming a nurse. If you find refraining from smoking weed is making life less enjoyable maybe you need to seek assistance with an addiction.

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As a CNA, if you have to take a random drug test and fail for marijuana, what are the consequences? (I get that you can get fired or suspended, I'm asking in certification regards)and will this carry over to your nursing license? Nebraska if that helps.

You WILL lose your job and be reported to the board where they will revoke your certification. This will follow you state to state and into your nursing license where you would be denied permission to sit for boards regardless of completing an accredited program at the top of your class. If they allow you to sit for boards and you pass you WILL be placed in a monitoring program AT YOUR EXPENSE and subject to random drug screens AT YOUR EXPENSE and attend addiction programs AT YOUR EXPENSE for however long they decide and they can prevent you from working at anytime during this process. ...and it is perfectly legal. So if you aren't mature enough to make the proper decisions maybe nursing isn't for you.

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Second: What states or facilities arent currently drug testing?

Simple.....NONE

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Third: What is the process of random drug testing like?

They randomly come up to you on the floor/during work ask you to follow them and take you to employee health ask you to urinate while being monitored and test you.

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So I dont need flaming or trolling for people wanting to tell me I'm a bad person for what I do solely in the privacy of my own home. Are there positions in healthcare that I can get with this degree and not be subject to RANDOM drug tests? I will be getting a BSN if that helps.

As a new member with your FIRST POST....you would not know that this is a professional site, for professionals, owned by a professional, monitored by professionals, that maintains professionalism at all times(with a few flares of passion now and again) as well as upholds the dignity/integrity of the profession. What degree you possess does NOT have any bearing what so ever on the usage of intoxicating substances.

My honest answer? You should not smoke "grass" and work in the health profession....period. If you are seeking a profession that carries huge responsibility for others, critical thinking skills and maturity.... if you cannot refrain from intoxicating substances....DO NOT become a nurse. Additionally, if you find that life now lacks enjoyment without intoxicating substances.....you may need to seek assistance from a licensed professional.

Good luck on your future endeavors.

allnurses Guide · Jan 9, 2014

Being a marijuana user and a healthcare worker at the same time does not work. The legalities that affect other professions regarding this issue are super concentrated when it comes to healthcare workers. If weed means that much to you find a line of work that your livelihood won't be so much at risk when (not if....when) you are found out. CNA and nursing are not for you.

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Jan 9, 2014

Of note the state of Colorado "legalized" canabis as regulates by city. However the boards of medicine and nursing do not condone use and if a licensed professional has a positive drug screen for THC their license is subject to sanction, discipline and possibly drug treatment mandating. It's still illegal at the federal level.

Getting caught pre-nursing can most definitely affect your ability to get licensed as a nurse years later. In fact it's a question asked on most if not all nursing license applications and the sanctions will follow from one state to the next.