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.
Roser, I get your point. This ordeal has made me sick over the last 72 hrs, both physically and emotionally. I'm not asking for parameters, I'm asking for compassion with your responses. I need help, not aggravated opinions.
Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
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.
Some might take you but you would most likely have to jump through some hoops - do a declaration of sorts " I am not an addict nor do I have a problem with MJ. It was a youthful indiscretion and I have since given it up. Shave your head to get rid of the evidence and move forward. Oh by the way shaving your head to get rid of a follicle test won't stop the boards from asking for that test - A person I went through diversion with had to submit Pubic hair samples.
Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
OP - I actually do believe you when you say you were a casual user of MJ and I feel a lot of compassion for you - this too shall pass but what you want to do is let some time pass on this test. Here is my sincere advice 1. Don't use marijuana again. Even in states where it's legal it's still against federal law. The Nurse Practice Act in most states requires nurses to abstain from criminal activity or crimes of moral turpitude. Since smoking Marijuana is a federal crime - it technically disqualifies you from the practice or nursing. The BON's mandate is public safety in that they apply the reasonable person rule which asked if a reasonably prudent person with good judgement would do this act? The same concept goes for drinking. It is illegal to drive under the influence of alcohol. On average the limit of 0.08 is approximately two drinks so a reasonably prudent person should not drive after having two drinks I would argue that driving after one drink is hazardous but then I'm a sober alcoholic who has paid my dues to the BON. Your BON application only asks if you have ever been arrested for or in treatment for a substance abuse disorder. So unless you are an addict and you successfully find a school that will take you, you can honestly answer this question no. Most states will let a new nurse who is in recovery practice but you have to jump through hoops and stipulations to do so for something like 3 to 5 years. It adds a lot of stress to your life. So stop smoking weed, find a school to take you and go from there. Good luck to you.
I believe some nursing student sins are forgivable. Before I started my pre-reqs I ran a red light with a camera, and got a ticket. Went to traffic school and got it all taken care of. When I applied for NCLEX I had to declare that I'd had a traffic violation over xyz amount of dollars. I wrote a personal statement about how I had changed, and had a friend write a personal reference to my character. Now I've been a nurse for 4 years.
A nursing school may be willing to take you if you can demonstrate how you have changed and have references that attest to your character (volunteer service for example). You will have to sell it, maybe meet with the dean. You might also get some good answers from the Nurse Addiction forum. Good luck!
Some might take you but you would most likely have to jump through some hoops - do a declaration of sorts " I am not an addict nor do I have a problem with MJ. It was a youthful indiscretion and I have since given it up. Shave your head to get rid of the evidence and move forward. Oh by the way shaving your head to get rid of a follicle test won't stop the boards from asking for that test - A person I went through diversion with had to submit Pubic hair samples.
hppy
A declaration will not get OP into clinical sites. I believe this is the main hurdle.
I don't get how nursing students can get hammered on alcohol but kicked out for any amount of marijuana. Well I get that one is legal and the other is not, it's just non sensical.
Student Advantage is not a "federal" program. At least here in Michigan everybody uses Certified Background which uses their own certified labs like Quest. Unfortunately, this factor alone will not solve the problem. Even moving across the country may not solve the matter because the OP will have to answer all these ubiquitous "name ALL the colleges you'd ever attended" and the likes.
If OP is absolutely adamant about eventually doing nursing, one workable (though long) way is to get entry level non-nursing degree or certificate. The choice is wide from commercial CNA or MA schools to undergrad in PT, OT, speech, laboratory and the like. Most of these degrees require clinicals, but many, especially for-profit schools, have ridiculously lax requirements. After going that and working for a while the OP will be able to start "direct networking" in order to personally convince a school that the whatever could be dug up from the past can be safely overlooked. If not successful, the OP will get real work experience and exposure to dozens of other health care occupations not less interesting and less restrictive than nursing.
IMHO, the situation like described is a pretty good illustration why MJ must be legalized and accepted yesterday. I do not (and physically cannot) use it, but seeing a talented young woman whose life was won in years-long battle against cancer doing social work (which she hates quietly) instead of nursing (which she dreams of) ONLY because she literally has choice between Marinol every day and TPN for unknown length of time is heartbreaking. It is just so plain wrong.
Your problem right now isn't the positive drug screen. There are many different drug screening companies that school use. For example, here in NC a few used FirstPoint for drug screens and criminal background checks.
Your biggest problem right now was that you were expelled from a nursing program. That can make you ineligible for many, many nursing schools.
Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
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.
The investor-owned schools of shady repute would probably accept the OP in spite of an expulsion. The OP should look into ITT Tech, Rasmussen, Brown Mackie, Univ of Phoenix, West Coast Univ, Fortis, Platt, Kaplan College, Pima Medical Institute, Concorde Career Institute, etc.
As long as you have the grossly expensive tuition and fees, many of these schools would probably grant admission even with a prior expulsion.
I know you don't want to hear this but as it worth getting stoned to wreck your potential career? You would have been better off having a beer. Just think about it - 1 joint can make your judgement off much more than a couple of beers - would you really want someone stoned taking care of your loved one? As a free country we are subject to some rules and passing drug tests is becoming more of one. It's not worth it. Perhaps you can plead your case to the dean and after enough random tests they may let you back in. If they do - stop smoking. It is also an insight to immature behavior and no one wants to work with that.
You may "believe" these things are "forgivable" but that means nothing. What matters is what the BON says and what hospital you work for (or school you attend) enforces. This is the thing people do not seem to understand. What you and I "believe" does not matter when it comes to lawyers, lawsuits, and regulations. If you are sued by a patient the lawyer isn't going to just "forgive" you because it was a "dumb mistake".
Breatholife
2 Posts
Roser, I get your point. This ordeal has made me sick over the last 72 hrs, both physically and emotionally. I'm not asking for parameters, I'm asking for compassion with your responses. I need help, not aggravated opinions.