Chemeketa Community College - Marijuana Screening

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I know this is a touchy subject in this field, but seeing as we live in a state with both legal medical and legal recreational marijuana I think it's a valid question. Chemeketa requires a background check with 10-panel drug screening before acceptance into the nursing program, does anyone know if this is a one time thing? I understand they have to follow the federal guidelines, that is not under scrutiny here. I'm just curious if there have ever been any random checks or other points in time at which there may be another test. I would like to not have to worry about being exposed to it or having the occasional relaxing weekend because let's face it, Oregon is a green state and what we do outside of class/clinicals really shouldn't be anyone's business if there isn't a problem within class or clinicals.

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Specializes in Prior military RN/current ICU RN..

A community college is a private business. They do not have to adhere to anything you "feel" is correct. If you are a nurse and you make a med error or some other kind of error they can order a UA right then. If you pop hot then you are in a world of hurt. Same if you were positive for alcohol at work. Alcohol is legal right? You can't drive a car when you have been drinking over a certain amount.

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As a fellow Chemeketa student, I can tell you what the school says on the matter. The drug screen before the start of each year is required for everyone, but the school reserves the right to test at random or if they feel there is cause on a student by student basis. The clinical sites arranged by the school also have the right to request additional drug tests prior to or during your rotation. On a side note, I can tell you I am also employed by a hospital in the Willamette Valley and our facility stipulates that although marijuana is legal according to Oregon state law, it is NOT legal by federal standards, and since my facility receives federal funding, a drug screen positive for marijuana is a fireable offense. I expect many if not most facilities have a similar policy.

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Windsurfer8- You kind of missed the point of my question, but thank you for your opinion.

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As a fellow Chemeketa student, I can tell you what the school says on the matter. The drug screen before the start of each year is required for everyone, but the school reserves the right to test at random or if they feel there is cause on a student by student basis. The clinical sites arranged by the school also have the right to request additional drug tests prior to or during your rotation. On a side note, I can tell you I am also employed by a hospital in the Willamette Valley and our facility stipulates that although marijuana is legal according to Oregon state law, it is NOT legal by federal standards, and since my facility receives federal funding, a drug screen positive for marijuana is a fireable offense. I expect many if not most facilities have a similar policy.

Thank you for an honest answer. I understand the whole federal thing, and I'm not arguing with that or trying to get around it. I'm just asking because it's not a straight forward answer anymore with it being legal in our state and both neighboring states. I mostly just wanted to know how careful I need to be since it has become such a non-issue for most people with the law change. A lot of folks that one would never suspect are coming out of the woodwork and having birthday parties with edibles or treating it like smoking a cigarette. I know there is still a major stigma about it even though people abuse alcohol and go to care for patients reeking of yesterday's vodka but somehow that's ok? And they could pass a UA. But someone can smoke a little marijuana two weeks ago while on vacation, be completely sober and capable of caring for a patient today but they'll get canned because they can't pass. Anyway, separate issue but I guess what I'm taking away from this is be very careful and don't even be exposed to it, even if I'm not participating. I know that's not really how it works but I don't want to risk losing my position in the program when I've worked so hard to get here.

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