I am shocked!!!!

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I met one of my classmate I had last semester. I asked her how she did, and said: about a b+ average. Not bad for a pothead, huh?

I was like WHAT?!? She said: yeah, I smoke in the evening sometimes.

I couldn't believe it! Being a nurse, according to the McGill model, is about promoting health. How can marijuana promote health? Also, I don't think that her attitude is professional. Am I right? What do you think?

mitchsmom

1,907 Posts

Specializes in OB, lactation.

I tend to agree, but then again I know a really top notch nurse who used to smoke pot before she got a job where she had to do random drug tests (stictly in her off time). If your classmate ever makes a mistake and is asked to do a drug screen she's going to be in trouble - hope it's worth it to her. As long as she isn't a threat to patients in any way then I guess I'd just avoid the topic - sounds like she's pretty blase about it... it'll probably catch up with her. I'm sure you'll get lots of different opinions though ;)

Just curious (pot's being illegal aside)... do you feel the same way about students who don't eat right? Don't exercise? Take more prescription meds than they should? Do risky sports that are likely to get them hurt? Drive over the speed limit? It's interesting to think about where to draw the line in promoting health...

mavnurse

136 Posts

Weeeeellllll they did tell us that around 85% of nurses are chemically dependent to some degree. I guess some start early?

NurseFirst

614 Posts

I met one of my classmate I had last semester. I asked her how she did, and said: about a b+ average. Not bad for a pothead, huh?

I was like WHAT?!? She said: yeah, I smoke in the evening sometimes.

I couldn't believe it! Being a nurse, according to the McGill model, is about promoting health. How can marijuana promote health? Also, I don't think that her attitude is professional. Am I right? What do you think?

Someone asked "where do you draw the line" on nursing student and health promotion practices. I'll tell you where I draw the line: where it is doing something illegal, and where it could be detrimental to patient care. There have been studies, by the way, which indicate that some effects, having to do with memory and such, last far longer than the "high". If someone told me that, I think I would have a severe ethical dilemma, because I think I would have to let someone in the nursing program know, because I think they would be at risk in providing competent patient care.

I have to admit, many many years ago (back in the late 60s, early 70s), a friend of mine and I were hitchhiking and met with a med student who offered us some MJ (that was very common in California at the time...people would hitchhike, and frequently, the people who picked them up would be smoking MJ--and MJ drug testing didn't exist, AFAIK). I mentioned my surprise that he was smoking MJ--he indicated that it was stress relief and didn't have the downside of a hangover. I was surprised that a med student would risk all they had worked for, risk getting kicked out of med school (I think MJ possession was a felony at the time).

NurseFirst

allthingsbright

1,569 Posts

Specializes in LDRP.

yeah, i had a classmate tell me she smokes pot to "relax" periodically. i don't think i'd announce that to the world :eek: ! makes you wonder who's smoking what and how it effects patient safety/care. i feel like the longer i'm in healthcare, the less i am shocked by anything!! :chair: *sigh*

Specializes in CCU (Coronary Care); Clinical Research.

Early on in my college years, I too smoked pot...I also made great grades, played college athletics, had a job etc, ...I no longer smoke (which is sad because I did enjoy it...) but don't want to risk my career for it...

I smoked at night...when every one else wasy "partying" in the college dorms or after a long day of studying...it was just for fun or to relax...I personally don't feel that "smoking at night sometimes" makes somone a pothead but that statement is up to intrepretation...I agree that I wouldn't annouce that I was smoking to those that I didn't know well...

I think that unless your classmate is endangering patients, it is her choice...she knows that it is not legal. If she truly has a problem with drugs then it is up to you to talk to her about it...before anyone else...I think that as long as she is professional at work and with her patients then that is all that matters. What she does in her free time is up to her...I am sure that I will get slammed with this opinion but other than the "legality" of the issue I don't see the big deal...

NurseFirst

614 Posts

Early on in my college years, I too smoked pot...I also made great grades, played college athletics, had a job etc, ...I no longer smoke (which is sad because I did enjoy it...) but don't want to risk my career for it...

I smoked at night...when every one else wasy "partying" in the college dorms or after a long day of studying...it was just for fun or to relax...I personally don't feel that "smoking at night sometimes" makes somone a pothead but that statement is up to intrepretation...I agree that I wouldn't annouce that I was smoking to those that I didn't know well...

I think that unless your classmate is endangering patients, it is her choice...she knows that it is not legal. If she truly has a problem with drugs then it is up to you to talk to her about it...before anyone else...I think that as long as she is professional at work and with her patients then that is all that matters. What she does in her free time is up to her...I am sure that I will get slammed with this opinion but other than the "legality" of the issue I don't see the big deal...

That I actually favor legalization of most drugs (not PCP), legalized, at least, in the way they are legalized in England. The fact that someone would knowingly do something illegal makes me wonder what other rules they might bend or break, as well. In nursing, it's very important to learn and FOLLOW the rules. I know one of my fellow students (young) laughing and even sneering a bit when she first learned about the 3 checks of the 5 rights (I don't think she feels that way any more). Three checks has saved me--though the discrepancy I saw was okay (the med was in IVPB with NS instead of D5W, as stated in the MAR.)

What you do on your own time DOES matter if it affects patient care. After all, airline pilots are not allowed to drink alcohol for some period before flying (something like 24-48 hours.)

NurseFirst

renerian, BSN, RN

5,693 Posts

Specializes in MS Home Health.

You will see that alot. I guess we are all human?

renerian

Tweety, BSN, RN

34,248 Posts

Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.

Sooner or later she's going to be busted and either loose her license or her potential license she doesn't have yet.

Like it or not, no matter how we individually feel about mj, it's illegal and it's against the nurse practice act and there are serious consequences on your nursing license if you're busted.

It's not worth the risk for a high in my opinion.

It happened to a coworker in the OR a couple of years ago. He "harmlessly smoked a little weed at a party, no big deal". Two weeks later, he hadn't smoke at all, but his department had to be screened for missing narcs. He was innocent of the narc charges, but busted for the mj that hadn't cleared his urine and got reported to the board of nursing. A high price to pay for a little harmless fun.

But yes nurses are human, we smoke, drink, are chemically dependent. One of my coworkers lost her license permanently for pulling a gun on someone off the job and was charged with attempted murder. Don't be shocked, you'll see and hear lots of things.

Trauma Columnist

traumaRUs, MSN, APRN

88 Articles; 21,249 Posts

Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Gosh - Mav - I'm not sure I read your post right: "Weeeeellllll they did tell us that around 85% of nurses are chemically dependent to some degree. I guess some start early?" Can you please post your source??? I've been a nurse for quite a few years and I know of few nurses that are chemically dependent. THanks for the info.

As to smoking pot on your off-time - every nurse needs to be aware that random drug tests can and do occur in most institutions. Like another poster stated - its a high price to pay for some brief "fun time."

mavnurse

136 Posts

^^^It was something they told us at orientation - I wish I knew the original source, too, because that seems so high!

Trauma Columnist

traumaRUs, MSN, APRN

88 Articles; 21,249 Posts

Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I totally agree that 85% of all nurses are some type of chemically dependent is a very high number...thanks for the clarification - I was wondering if my old eyes were playing tricks on me!

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