Pot Smoking and Nursing

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Im angry.

I work for a small clinic in Northern CA. There are three RN's on staff at all time. Recently our Office Manager decided to start drug testing of all staff including Doctors. Well, one of the Nurses I work with came back positive for marijuana use. My thought was "Well she should not be doing it anyways" I was actually glad to see her get in trouble.

After discusing it with the Doctors they came up with a new unwritten policy. They will overlook marijuana. Basiclly, you can smoke all the pot you want but just on the weekends not during "on call" days. I questioned one of the Doctors about it and his response was to "chill"

Does this seem wrong to anybody else? Do Nurses really smoke pot on there days off?

Nevermind.

I don't like the idea of my job being able to control what I do in MY free time. I hate alcohol and I always hear people talking about how they are getting hammered after work. But I can't smoke one joint? Oh the hypocrisy. I have given this a lot of thought and I decided that I am not happy working at a place that tells me I can't do something I very much enjoy to do in my free time. I had to ask myself what is mroe important to me? More money or my happiness in my free time? MY HAPPINESS IN MY FREE TIME. I only live once and I will not be miserable just to have money. NOPE.

I don't like the idea of my job being able to control what I do in MY free time. I hate alcohol and I always hear people talking about how they are getting hammered after work. But I can't smoke one joint? Oh the hypocrisy. I have given this a lot of thought and I decided that I am not happy working at a place that tells me I can't do something I very much enjoy to do in my free time. I had to ask myself what is mroe important to me? More money or my happiness in my free time? MY HAPPINESS IN MY FREE TIME. I only live once and I will not be miserable just to have money. NOPE.

Then please don't be offended when those of us who choose to not engage in illegal activity, and know how long pot stays in the system, and that it DOES have effects on response time/judgement do not want a loaded nurse caring for us or our family/friends. :)

Happy inhaling :up:

Specializes in Med/Surg, DSU, Ortho, Onc, Psych.

Whether anyone likes pot or not, it's still illegal - in my country anyway. So smoke away - I couldn't care less if someone is high or mellow or what, but not if they're doing surgery on me, caring for me or driving a bus I'm on - THAT is scary. And I'm not naive enough to think that's never happened.

I've worked with a GP who's hubby smoked dope all the time - she used to join him on occasion, even when she was on call. She said that & drinking were the only things that controlled her stress. And they had 2 young children in the house to care for.

It's like the drink drivers that get caught - they never think it will happen to them - until they actually ++ injure or kill someone.

I just hope the people on here aren't smoking etc the night b4 work & driving their cars as well when they are high (on anything). THAT really scares me.

Specializes in Geriatrics.

original post is 2002. just saying..

original post is 2002. just saying..

:hhmth: :hhmth: :hhmth: :hhmth: And I've been trying to look for those dates more consistently- LOL

And whaddya know? It's someone defending their right to smoke and take care of patients who resurrected it :D

Specializes in PACU.

I think it's pretty sad this discussion is even here. My friend who is in school told me she was surprised to see how much drug use there is among the nursing students. Wow, good luck to us all.

Specializes in Med Surg.

Personally, I don't see a difference between occasional pot smoking on my day off versus having a drink or two when I'm off. In either case, I'm not fit to take of patients (I'm a cheap date when it comes to alcohol :) ). But, since pot's illegal and can get me fired, not to mention lose my license, I'm not taking that chance.

I used to believe the hype that it's a gateway drug, that people get addicted to it. Sure, some people can and do use it that way, but the people I know that smoke pot only use it and nothing else and are far from addicted.

Personally, I don't see a difference between occasional pot smoking on my day off versus having a drink or two when I'm off. In either case, I'm not fit to take of patients (I'm a cheap date when it comes to alcohol :) ). But, since pot's illegal and can get me fired, not to mention lose my license, I'm not taking that chance.

I used to believe the hype that it's a gateway drug, that people get addicted to it. Sure, some people can and do use it that way, but the people I know that smoke pot only use it and nothing else and are far from addicted.

That's great :)

All I know is that EVERY person admitted for drug rehab I worked at (not the alcohol only group, who tended to be older) started with pot. Every one. I spent years taking histories from these folks, and without fail, pot was the first drug they used. Most (probably 90-95%) went on to harder stuff. There were a few that stayed with pot- and were like lampposts with no bulbs when they got there :) It does linger. Maybe it's not AS bad for light users, but it's in the system longer than the length of time it takes to feel ok.

I had a co-worker who smoked pot, probably 3-5 times a week (guessing). I regret not turning her in. Now, in TX (or at least when I was there from 1985-2002) it was mandatory to report known users for most of that time. There is enough concern to warrant BON action. JME

Specializes in CDI Supervisor; Formerly NICU.
well ok you guys are right...lets not break any laws ok?

lets not speed...lets claim everything on our taxes (dont forget that 2 bucks you won on the scratch lottery) and as i recall some sex acts are still illegal (better stop doing those)

if we are going to obey ALL laws, then lets obey ALL laws (you do wear seatbelts dont you, it is the LAW)

and your kids are REALLY sick when they stay home from school because thats the LAW you know.

your dog has a license doesnt it? thats the LAW too.

and you do walk home from the bar dont you because the LAW says you cant drink and drive.

You should look up the term "straw man argument". You're a master at it, and probably don't even know it. A natural, even.

Specializes in Med Surg.
That's great :)

All I know is that EVERY person admitted for drug rehab I worked at (not the alcohol only group, who tended to be older) started with pot. Every one. I spent years taking histories from these folks, and without fail, pot was the first drug they used. Most (probably 90-95%) went on to harder stuff. There were a few that stayed with pot- and were like lampposts with no bulbs when they got there :) It does linger. Maybe it's not AS bad for light users, but it's in the system longer than the length of time it takes to feel ok.

I had a co-worker who smoked pot, probably 3-5 times a week (guessing). I regret not turning her in. Now, in TX (or at least when I was there from 1985-2002) it was mandatory to report known users for most of that time. There is enough concern to warrant BON action. JME

I was just going off of my personal experience. I don't doubt that the heavy duty addicts had to start somewhere. But what percentage of pot smokers go on to become drug addicts, or use other drugs? How many addicts started with alcohol? Should alcohol then be banned as well?

I definitely agree with you about your cowoker. Like I said, it's not something I would do since it is illegal. I just see it on par with having the occasional drink, but the law disagrees with me, so I obey the law.

+ Add a Comment