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.
Specializes in Emergency, home health, urgent care.
I'm sorry you got canned from your program. I know you're probably beating yourself up about, but try not to be so hard on yourself. I think it's really unfair to bar people from the profession for smoking a little weed. The rules being the way they are, you either have to play by them, or cheat. The best way to pass a drug test, of course, is to not do any drugs. But if you did, or slipped up, there are products that can be found for sale online that cannot help you pass. Just do a little research. If you get suprised with a random drug screen, you could still run into trouble.
On the bright side, it's better that this happened before getting your license, and not after. If that were the case, the positive drug test would be reported to your state board, and your license would be restricted, and you would be placed on a very expensive program that requires you to take and pay for random drug tests every month for years, or loose your license. It's very punitive and unjust. That's how it is in PA, and probably in many other states.
I don't think it is the end for you though. You may have to apply to nursing programs outside of your region, and of course leave out your history with this particular program. And don't repeat your mistake! Good luck to you!
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.
But is she going to be able to do clinicals anywhere? It doesn't matter if she is paying tuition if the hospitals won't let her in.
Specializes in Nephrology Home Therapies, Wound Care, Foot Care..
I think you need to get into an out-patient treatment program, and have documented PROOF that you did so. Then look at another program. It's possible that the states with legal pot like Denver, Oregon, Washington, and the others might be most receptive. My state uses Certified Profile. Obviously- don't smoke again! But once you can show you are getting/have gotten treatment and are "rehabilitates", I'm certain there is a program that will accept you.
You are focusing on the wrong things. Who is doing the drug testing and the fact you don't think it's a big deal. You were kicked out of the program. You may very well have torched your career.
Alcohol leaves your system in hours. THC takes 30 days. Yes, there is a difference. And yes, it is a big deal. You can't smoke a joint after work and expect to show up sober the next day and take people's lives into your hands. The amount in your system may still be small but it's still there making it illegal. You are missing this point.
You are going to have a hard time finding a new program. I'm sorry. But you knew the rules going into this and you chose to ignore it, thinking you wouldn't get caught. That's where I have the issue. You are sorry you got caught.
These are your words," I don't smoke much" Well, what do you mean by I don't smoke much? If I were in your shoes, I would not talk about completing nursing school rather take responsibility and search for help on how to stop marijuana use or anything that will hinder my schooling. You have to think about the people who will be in your care. Go back to the school where you were expelled, asked them if there are resources for you out there for therapy. That way, the faculty will see your interest in changing your situation and feel your helplessness situation. You never know, you may be given a 2nd chance if they see a big change in you. You cannot change from outside in, it has to be inside out. All the best.
Specializes in Emergency, home health, urgent care.
Heathermaizey said:
You are focusing on the wrong things. Who is doing the drug testing and the fact you don't think it's a big deal. You were kicked out of the program. You may very well have torched your career.
Alcohol leaves your system in hours. THC takes 30 days. Yes, there is a difference. And yes, it is a big deal. You can't smoke a joint after work and expect to show up sober the next day and take people's lives into your hands. The amount in your system may still be small but it's still there making it illegal. You are missing this point.
You are going to have a hard time finding a new program. I'm sorry. But you knew the rules going into this and you chose to ignore it, thinking you wouldn't get caught. That's where I have the issue. You are sorry you got caught.
While you are entitled to your own opinion, I strongly disagree with your post and the tone of it. The OP KNOWS they made a major mistake and is already facing serious consequences. Everyone makes mistakes in life, things we wish we could take back. I don't think it's at all helpful to heap judgment and condemnation upon them for it. And just because marijuana is detectable in your urine for up to 30 days, it doesn't mean that person is impaired for that long, or even necessarily the next day. I happen to know a couple of ER nurses that smoked it, responsibly, and they are very good nurses and I would trust them completely. I choose not to use, athough I have before my nursing career, and I respect their decision of those that do. It's just not a risk I'm willing to take.
You stated that he's sorry he got caught. Of course he is, I would be too in his situation. But he didn't do anything morally/ethically wrong, and he faces consequences that are disproportionate to the gravity of his offense. As nurses, we should have each other's backs, lift each other up, and realize we are all human and suceptible to making the occasional error in judgment. We should not be so quick to judge someone based on one poor decision. That's were I have the issue.
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.
You may need to move. By the way its illegal for anyone to have access to your drug test results without your consent. Every new place you go will do a new drug test. Just stay clean and apply to a different program. Having a positive drug test does not means you committed a crime or felony. So you dont need to disclose it in any future applications.
Good luck, dont let a silly setback stop you. You learned from the situation, now move forward.
While you are entitled to your own opinion, I strongly disagree with your post and the tone of it. The OP KNOWS they made a major mistake and is already facing serious consequences. Everyone makes mistakes in life, things we wish we could take back. I don't think it's at all helpful to heap judgment and condemnation upon them for it. And just because marijuana is detectable in your urine for up to 30 days, it doesn't mean that person is impaired for that long, or even necessarily the next day. I happen to know a couple of ER nurses that smoked it, responsibly, and they are very good nurses and I would trust them completely. I choose not to use, athough I have before my nursing career, and I respect their decision of those that do. It's just not a risk I'm willing to take.
You stated that he's sorry he got caught. Of course he is, I would be too in his situation. But he didn't do anything morally/ethically wrong, and he faces consequences that are disproportionate to the gravity of his offense. As nurses, we should have each other's backs, lift each other up, and realize we are all human and suceptible to making the occasional error in judgment. We should not be so quick to judge someone based on one poor decision. That's were I have the issue.
He he didn't smoke it once, he smokes it on a regular basis. And if it's detectable in your system for 30 days that means in 12 hours after smoking it, you are still impaired. I'm sorry, but it's the truth. THC cannot be compared to alcohol. Alcohol is gone in hours. That's the difference I am trying to show. You can leave work, have a glass of wine at home to unwind and be fine to care for patients the next day. The same is not true of Marijuana.
I'm not being judgemental. I'm pointing out facts and the fact the OP seems to be more concerned with who the testing company at each school seems to be rather than he was booted from an ABSN program for drug use. Yes, he's sorry now, but each school clearly spells out the guidelines when you are accepted into the program. The OP chose to ignore these rules because he never thought he'd be tested. This wasn't a one-off, the OP states, I don't smoke much... I'm wondering what he thinks is "not much"?
Again, what I personally think does not matter. The OP was caught and will need to do lots of research and lots of applications to see if there is a chance. As one PP mentioned his only choices may be for profit commercial programs that will not only be extremely expensive, but there is no guarantee anybody will hire him afterwards. And they also have strict drug requirements once in the program.
But he didn't do anything morally/ethically wrong, and he faces consequences that are disproportionate to the gravity of his offense.
YES, he did something ethically wrong. Given nursing ethics matter, I would hope that people would see that including the nurses you trust so much that smoke it are also doing something WRONG. Please don't defend bad behavior and then try to confuse people who might be reading the post as if ethics and morals are not involved!
Maybe you can respect your fellow pot smoking nurses even thought they may be permanently removed from the profession because of their 100% choice to do what is wrong, but personally I don't respect anyone or trust anyone who so lightly endangers the well being of those whom they are charged to care by doing drugs. That is immoral and unethical without regard to what you personally believe. And given you refuse to take the same risk they take, I do believe that a portion of you does understand what they are doing is completely and utterly wrong (otherwise, you would do it so as their would be absolutely no risk).
That stated, given the OP made a mistake and admitted it. We don't know the OP to any degree to know if the OP was sorry to get caught or sorry period; there is a huge difference between the two. Maybe the OP will find mercy and be able to restart the journey; I and many others would be ok with that outcome. Yet, for a second don't think ethics and morality wasn't involved when it comes to putting drugs in one's system that hinders the ability to properly care for those around us.
Specializes in progressive care. med surg. tele. LTC. psych..
Where do you live? I'm sure there a way to find out who uses that company. You could even call them anonymously and try to get a list of who their partnered with. Are you willing to move?
Gabriel13
25 Posts
I'm sorry you got canned from your program. I know you're probably beating yourself up about, but try not to be so hard on yourself. I think it's really unfair to bar people from the profession for smoking a little weed. The rules being the way they are, you either have to play by them, or cheat. The best way to pass a drug test, of course, is to not do any drugs. But if you did, or slipped up, there are products that can be found for sale online that cannot help you pass. Just do a little research. If you get suprised with a random drug screen, you could still run into trouble.
On the bright side, it's better that this happened before getting your license, and not after. If that were the case, the positive drug test would be reported to your state board, and your license would be restricted, and you would be placed on a very expensive program that requires you to take and pay for random drug tests every month for years, or loose your license. It's very punitive and unjust. That's how it is in PA, and probably in many other states.
I don't think it is the end for you though. You may have to apply to nursing programs outside of your region, and of course leave out your history with this particular program. And don't repeat your mistake! Good luck to you!