Drug Testing for Newly Graduated RN

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I just graduated in May 2014 from nursing school and I am starting to apply for RN positions in Louisiana. After graduation I took a much deserved month off from school and studying for NCLEX to enjoy myself before i start the real world. I smoked marijuana countless times throughout the month and I know it is still in my system. My question is when I apply for a job and take a drug test, if i fail the drug screen will i lose my license even though i have never worked as a licensed RN? Please do not judge, I know it wasn't the smartest thing to do, thank you.

Specializes in Critical care.

Hopefully once they have an immediate accurate test for an active cannabis user this will be a moot point. The states will legalize like they have for same sex marriage. Federal government will have to change category, there is just too much money to be made. I actually wish alcohol was illegal.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
I actually wish alcohol was illegal.

Uh...NOT! :no:

I would surely have a side bootlegging operation if alcohol was illegal. :blink:

Sorry that MJ is still illegal; however, one has to be smart when making decisions until there is a change in the laws the OP has some decisions to make.

I'm not saying this as a judgment post; to be clear; if OP wants to toke, unfortunately OP has to think about abstaining if he wants to have a clear drug screen; and even after obtaining employment, there are random drug screens that can occur; the risk is always there DESPITE whatever substance is overused-that includes alcohol as well.

To add: MJ stays in the body for 21 days if one smokes it ONCE; add 21 days to each toke session and then see what happens; it may not be in the urine, but it will be in the hair.

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Specializes in Anesthesia, ICU, PCU.
Kinda hoping this was sarcasm gone wrong. If serious, it's ridiculously nasty and immature, and quite undeserved.

But.....since you asked what you did wrong.....here ya go:

Terms of Service for Nurses | Nursing Students

You cannot give advice on how to skew pre-employment drug screenings, how to get around them at all, period.

Can't really believe I'm having to SAY this to someone who is also supposed to be an RN (that is, if I can even be SURE he/she is.....).

If the act of advising somebody to simply exercise and drink water (that is, very normal, daily activities that any nurse should recommend to the average person) can be construed as "skewing pre-employment drug screenings," then I suppose we shouldn't be advising him to go to the Walgreen's to get a drug test before taking the official one. Didn't you know? He might be exercising by doing so! Confusticators and deceptors!

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Specializes in Maternity.
Hopefully once they have an immediate accurate test for an active cannabis user this will be a moot point. The states will legalize like they have for same sex marriage. Federal government will have to change category, there is just too much money to be made. I actually wish alcohol was illegal.

Even if it's federally legalized. You still can't smoke MJ and be a nurse. Narcotics and Benzos are legal, you still can't test positive for these in a drug screen either. Check out the recovery section...not everyone there is an addict. Some are there because of this very situation. I begin to wonder though how recreational something is when there is such resistance and rationalization about using any type of mood altering substance.

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Easy fix don't do drugs. The board of nursing will take your license and rip it up in a hot second.

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Specializes in Pediatric/Adolescent, Med-Surg.
Some places take hair samples which can check you for months! You are lucky if it is only a urine drug screen. Stay clean and sober. Good luck!

I have never seen a hospital do a hair sample. It has always been urine or mouth swab

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Specializes in Pediatric/Adolescent, Med-Surg.
If the act of advising somebody to simply exercise and drink water (that is, very normal, daily activities that any nurse should recommend to the average person) can be construed as "skewing pre-employment drug screenings," then I suppose we shouldn't be advising him to go to the Walgreen's to get a drug test before taking the official one. Didn't you know? He might be exercising by doing so! Confusticators and deceptors!

There is a difference between drinking 6-8 glasses of water a day and telling someone to drink lots of water in order to pass a drug screen. Attempting to dilute down drug screens is a common trick and labs will often reject it if the specific gravity of the urine is very low.

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It's still federally illegal as well. Just because the current "hip" administration chooses not to enforce those laws doesn't mean the next one will make the same choice.

The lack of maturity with these posts always grates on my nerves. You know it's not allowed and could completely torpedo your career, yet you WANNA so you go ahead, then want to go into panic mode about your job and the BON. There was never any mystery here, it was all clearly spelled out. Grow up and stop making choices that risk the career you say you want, or if you make those choices, suck it up and take the consequences because you knew exactly what you were doing.

From the original post-

"Please do not judge, I know it wasn't the smartest thing to do, thank you".

Apparently you feel like posters with concerns / questions/ needs just need to "grow up".

Op is requesting information... not judgement.. You went past judgement to an assault on his character.

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It's still federally illegal as well. Just because the current "hip" administration chooses not to enforce those laws doesn't mean the next one will make the same choice.

The lack of maturity with these posts always grates on my nerves. You know it's not allowed and could completely torpedo your career, yet you WANNA so you go ahead, then want to go into panic mode about your job and the BON. There was never any mystery here, it was all clearly spelled out. Grow up and stop making choices that risk the career you say you want, or if you make those choices, suck it up and take the consequences because you knew exactly what you were doing.

Exactly! I would never trust a nurse who even remotely thought smoking that was OK.

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Personally, I would not want a pothead for a nurse, legality aside.

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Specializes in Critical care.

There is an american cannabis nurses association. They were created to dispel most of the inaccurate information that the general public has about MJ. Even talk of a specialty. The day I retire I am planning to join and take online courses so that I can be certified for the cannabusiness that will be booming nationwide in a few years. It is much safer than more than half the drugs we give to our patients. Sorry I know this is not a debate. I just get frustrated when I see how many people were bamboozled by the government in the 1940's.

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Specializes in hospice.
Personally, I would not want a pothead for a nurse, legality aside.

Having met a fair few in my life, I couldn't agree with you more.

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