I failed my school drug test. Am I finished forever?

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Hello everyone,

I know there are some threads on this subject, but every situation is different and I'm looking for specific advice on my current situation.

I was in a accelerated nursing program for about 6 months and needed to take a drug test (through Advantage Students) for my second clinical rotation. As you can guess, I failed due to smoking marijuana. I don't smoke much, and I know it's not worth it, but I did this time and got caught. I was expelled from my program/school with no hope of re-admission. A large part of their decision to expel me was because it would be very difficult to find clinical sites that do not use "Advantage Students" drug/background screening. Many of the hospitals in my city were bought by a large healthcare organization and that organization uses Advantage Students, so my failed test would show up at any of their sites. Also, apparently Advantage Students is a national company.

I'm starting to wonder if I will ever be able to complete a nursing program anywhere on the chance that a possible clinical site might use Advantage Students, and thus promptly send me on my way. I'm live in the south east part of the US wondering if I move to the west coast, pacific north west, Canada, or Virgin Islands if the failed test result would mess me up somewhere along the way. Also, who does the NCLEX use for there pre-test drug testing?

I have been so committed to my career in healthcare and nursing, over the past 5+ years, I don't know if can start something else. I'm beginning to freak out and am desperate to find any solution that would allow me to continue on my journey to becoming a nurse.

P.S. I'm not looking for a lecture about my poor decision, or the negative effects of drugs. I know I f*ed up bad. Now I'm trying to be positive, move on, and find a solution to get back on track.

Thank you all in advance. Any constructive advice would be greatly appreciated.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

FWIW: you have put your stuff out there on the world-wide internet. It does no good to place paramaters around what you do and don't want to hear. You will get it all. If you don't care to have all types of comments, take your post down.

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Canadian nursing schools and nursing employers do not require students or employees to undergo drug screening.

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Specializes in Reproductive & Public Health.
roser13 said:
FWIW: you have put your stuff out there on the world-wide internet. It does no good to place paramaters around what you do and don't want to hear. You will get it all. If you don't care to have all types of comments, take your post down.

Yes...it is true that all and sundry can view and post, but that doesn't mean we can't try to offer helpful advice.

OP, I don't have much to add except I applaud you for a) taking responsibility for your mistakes and b) picking yourself up and working to get back on track. I have a huge problem with "screening" drug tests, and the notion that someone who smokes pot (responsibly, obviously) is automatically unfit to be a nurse is just plain ridiculous. I think most would agree. But yeah, we live in a world with random drug screening and reefer madness, and if you want to play you have to follow the rules. But clearly you know that. We all do stupid things we know we shouldn't.

Good luck to you, and I hope you find support as you continue to work towards your goals.

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Breatholife said:

Also, who does the NCLEX use for there pre-test drug testing?

Are American NCLEX examinees really required to take a pre-test drug screen? Why?

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I am really very sorry. This must be absolutely horrible. It is (unfortunately for you) a good lesson for nursing students.

Personally, I hate pot, but I have some intellectually brilliant friends who are high up in the academic and professional food chain that partake. It's not a big deal for them. But they do not hold lives in their hands, so it is not an issue.

Unfortunately for nurses, this is not a "sin" that is allowed. I get it. Rules must be tight in order to avoid opening the door to those that might not be able to self-regulate their indulgences: one toke once a month might lead to ten tokes daily. It's called risk management. Is it fair? Well, not to the person who is legally using and has their "play time" kept firmly in check, but how is any hospital to accurately predict what the indulgent will do in their future behavior? They can't, thus we have these blanket rules.

What bothers me is that I've known several physicians that toke-up for recreation. I do not see nearly the stringent rules in place for them. Maybe I am incorrect in my assumptions, because I really do not know the testing (if any) procedures for med students or practicing physicians. As an RN, I wouldn't even dare go there, even if I liked pot.

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Specializes in psych, addictions, hospice, education.

It's against federal law. I doubt any American school will accept you since it would be impossible to place you in clinicals.

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I don't know if it's impossible, but it would be very unlikely for another nursing school to admit you just based on your prior expulsion from a nursing program.

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Specializes in Prior military RN/current ICU RN..

If you are "so commited" why did you smoke marijuana?

I am not judging, but you have made your life more difficult. If you are committed then you have to be 100%. And in a hospital if you make a major mistake they can order a UA at that moment. And if you pop hot you better get ready for the possible lawsuit nightmare.

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dishes said:
Are American NCLEX examinees really required to take a pre-test drug screen? Why?

Not that I'm aware of.

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Pangea Reunited said:
I don't know if it's impossible, but it would be very unlikely for another nursing school to admit you just based on your prior expulsion from a nursing program.

There is a vast difference between being expelled and just failing out of a program. You will have a difficult time trying to put a spin on that fact.

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What a sad cautionary tale. My D has a good friend who, at the end of their senior year in college, has just had his $125K starting salary offer rescinded because he tested positive for THC. On the one hand, I'm shaking my head at this dumb, dumb, DUMB behavior when he knew that he would have to pass a drug screen. On the other, I feel really bad for him. Some decisions can have long term devastating consequences. You really have to consider the risk/benefits of given activities before you act.

Sorry OP, I don't have any direct knowledge of your odds of overcoming this. Good luck in the future.

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