Nursing and Suspicion of Drug Use

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Hello, my name's Brad, I'm 19 years old, and a 1 year completed SN.

I made a mistake at a party a few months back, but I still worry about it now. The purpose of this post is to determine disciplinary action. Please read the post in and of its entirety. I'd really appreciate it.

A few months back, I attended a get-together at a friend's house, many people there I didn't know. I entered a room full of people, didn't see any familiar faces, so sat on a couch in the corner where there was an open spot. Then I saw it 3 feet away on the coffee table:

I saw a Tupperware container half full of what looked like tobacco. I asked the girl sitting in front of it what it was. She said something about tobacco, rolling cigarettes, or some slang word for it.

Any healthcare worker knows it's ESSENTIAL to avoid any sort of controlled substance, but figuring it was tobacco, I really didn't have a problem being near it, and didn't want to make a huge deal of it, as I didn't really know anybody there.

My friend approached me after about 10 minutes, and made some sort of pot reference. It was safe to assume that the container was marijuana at that point (I always figured it was a green leaf of sorts, but I'm fairly sure what was in the container was pot, even if it didn't look like it).

I told her I had to go, and just kind of left. It's not that I'm unaccepting of people who do that kind of thing; I just can't afford to be around it, because my family had cases of addiction and whatnot. But then a thought crossed my mind on the way home. What if my future (or current one, for that matter) employer caught wind of me being at said place, with marijuana present. I've never done anything like that before, but being there has to be some of violation. Just being pictured with it there, there would probably be some sort of repercussion. And I, thinking the worst, would automatically assume I'd lose my license, even though I'd never fail a drug test, as I've never done drugs.

I just think I was at the wrong place at the wrong time, and had absolutely know idea that's what would be going on.

So what would it warrant? A violation? Probation? Permanent Suspension?

Thanks for your time.

But how would they know? Did someone post a pic of you on fb or something cheesing with the marijuana ? I think you're being a bit paranoid.

Its more a hypothetical. The possibility is minimal at best, but I was wondering what would happen.

Specializes in Infusion Nursing, Home Health Infusion.

Do not worry needlessly as I think that is what you are doing. First of all you do not have a license yet for anyone to take away. Secondly, you did not take the substance to the party or use the substance at the party or made aware it was even there. You are not even sure what the substance was. Marijuana has a very distintive smell especially when smoked so perhaps it was just tobacco. But here is the deal...how would anyone know? Why are you even worried about this....you did not do anything wrong!

Specializes in ICU.

You have nothing to worry about.

Specializes in Cath lab, acute, community.

Where you ARE in your personal time is your business. What you DO, is not. If you had ingested the substance, that could lead to a loss of license. If you were around the substance, then it could not.

I have some friends who choose to take substances, and am thus around those substances, and that is none of my employers business and is does not affect my work performance. If, however, I took those substances it would presumably affect my work performance, and as a result could affect my licensing.

Even if you were in a strip club, surrounded by people shooting up heroin (if such a place does exist!), that does NOT affect your work performance so it's not your employers business.

Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

Good one...and I speak without sarcasm: this really is a first for me to hear about, and in detox you hear them all.

Since you can't undo the past, I wouldn't even refer to the event anymore. After all, unless someone can provide definite evidence of your being at the party (photos, video, sworn statements), it really comes down to a "he said/she said" matter that few employers are going to waste their time digging into, especially if it happened outside of the facility.

In addition, merely being at the party is not proof positive that you used MJ, just as it also isn't proof positive you drank alcohol. Should an employer really be concerned about your activities outside of work, then they'll order you to take a drug test.

However, if you are truly concerned about such matters affecting your reputation as well as your future career, then you need to be more careful about where you socialize in the future...and when at events, should you encounter activity that is illegal or questionable, seriously consider making your excuses and leaving. I did say that being at a party where MJ is around isn't proof positive that you used...however, repeatedly frequenting parties where MJ openly turns up makes your claims of not using harder to believe.

IMO, don't waste any more sleep over it. I also think you'll be fine.

Good luck.

Where you ARE in your personal time is your business. What you DO, is not. If you had ingested the substance, that could lead to a loss of license. If you were around the substance, then it could not.

I have some friends who choose to take substances, and am thus around those substances, and that is none of my employers business and is does not affect my work performance. If, however, I took those substances it would presumably affect my work performance, and as a result could affect my licensing.

Even if you were in a strip club, surrounded by people shooting up heroin (if such a place does exist!), that does NOT affect your work performance so it's not your employers business.

Well, actually, if you frequent places like that someone could report you and the board could discipline you for something like immorality (at least in some states) so probably best to lay off the heroin dens. :D

Otherwise-- chill out, nothing here to see, move along. If you do find yourself having a harder time letting this go than you are comfortable with, or having intrusive thoughts that just won't go away worrying about it, stop by your campus health stop and ask to speak to a counselor. They've heard it all before and they can help.

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What you do in your personal time is your business. Quite frankly I am of the opinion that marijuana is not harmful, and should be legal for personal uses. As long as someone does not go to work intoxicated (on ANYTHING) and it does not impede their judgment on the job I believe it is none of the employers business. And really if no one reports you they won't know. On top of that, as others have said simply being around it is no grounds for disciplinary action.

I'll be honest...you are blowing this out of proportion.

You didn't do anything...you didn't go to a pot smoking party, you were there, someone brought and you left.

That is what you are supposed to do.

You cannot lose your license FOR WHAT SOMEONE ELSE DOES, only what you do.

You cannot lose your license or be dismissed from school.

The only risk would have been if people got arrested there for possession, you would have been caught up in it.

By the way, not that it matters, but marijuana is not a physically addictive substance.

But how would they know? Did someone post a pic of you on fb or something cheesing with the marijuana ? I think you're being a bit paranoid.
HAHAHAHA your reply made me LOL:lol2:
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