Need some advice!

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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This is my very first post on this site. I am currently finishing my first year of nursing school (my finals are in three days, whoop!!)... and I have maintained a high GPA with straight A's thusfar, (minus those B+ mishaps in A&P, hello...)

Okay, so with these facts in mind: I am also someone who has, in the past and occasional present, smoked marijuana. My reasons for this are that it's kind of habitual (yes, hi, I'm human!) and like many others who explain their use of the substance, pot simply helps soothe anxieties/stress and easily lends itself as a short, safe and lovely state of euphoria.

Let the judgement pour in! I'm not afraid!

For those without biases and those able to look past theirs... that is who the rest of this post is really for. Because, really, I just need some advice.

I know you're out there. There has to be those of you who smoked pot before you went to nursing school and had to at some point choose a life with weed in it or a life with your license and career. I understand fully how the two don't mix.

I obviously passed my first drug test upon entering my first year of school. To do this, though, I had to quit my habit two months in advance to fully ENSURE I would be clean. My first semester I only did it very occasionally, but it became slightly more frequent during this past semester. Again: old habits die hard and the STRESS people!

I have managed to pull it off and not miss any school or clinical time and am succeeding in my courses. But I have come to this point now where I will be tested again in August. Because I am a regular user and am obviously paranoid of messing up the greatest thing I ever decided to do (go back to school and supporting myself and my son).... I am quitting very early.

I have hit this realization/acceptance stage where I know I won't be able to keep living this nursing life and smoke marijuana concurrently. It doesn't work with jobs, random testing. I'd lose everything if I ever tested positive. I know this. That alone should be enough to keep me away from the stuff.

But... when I look at my big picture... marijuana has been in my life off and on for a long while. I'm sort of scared (1) to face my second year without it at all and (2) face life without it at all period!

I thank all of you who took the time to read this. I really just need some nonjudgmental advice and support basically. I would never EVER go to clinical "high" or take care of anyone under its influence. I see so many of the positives of quitting but am just hitting this wall right now.

Thanks ahead of time!

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Specializes in Critical Care and ED.

I've never smoked pot, but I don't judge those who do. However, if you wish to be a nurse, there is no way in the current climate that you can continue to do both. I suggest you take a little time and go over to the Nurses in Recovery forum, and have a read of what those nurses are going through. If you read all of that, and then still think it's a good idea, have at it and good luck. You will need all the luck in the world, because if you ever test positive, you will wish that you had never touched the stuff. One slip and your entire future is in jeopardy. The BON will make your life absolutely miserable. Beyond miserable actually. Look, I get it...I live in chronic pain. There's nothing I'd like more than to get an MMJ card because of my chronic health issues, but I've worked my tail off for 29 years to get where I am and it's just not worth it. You will not find support nor understanding on this forum....just giving you forewarning. You have to make the choice...which one do you want more? You can't have both.

Here's a scenario for you....you test positive while in school, you get dismissed from the program, and you'll never get into another nursing school again ever. All the money you spent thus far on your degree is wasted and you still have to pay it back with no prospects for the future. Student loans ain't so fun on a McDonald's salary. Or...you graduate, get a job, test positive, and then the BON get their hands on you and make you go through a 3-5 year mandated program with mandatory meetings, frequent (weekly) drug tests at a time of their convenience, your license will have a restriction on it, you'll likely lose your job, and then while you're trying to pay all the bills for the tests and therapy they'll make you do, you won't be able to find another job because no one will hire you. If you're looking for the quickest most effective way of ruining your life, this is it.

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Specializes in Critical care.

I've never touched the stuff and never will for the reasons RockNurse outlined above. It sounds to me like you don't have very effective coping strategies for stress. I'd focus on that and see a counselor to help you if needed- you're school might even offer free services. If you think nursing school is stressful then you'll probably be in some trouble that first year of your nursing career (just look at all the different posts by new grads stating how stressed and miserable they are). Nursing in general is stressful and healthy ways to deal with that stress (exercise, hobbies, someone to talk to, etc.) are what keep nurses in the field and can help prevent burnout.

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

OP: Wise counsel ^^ here. I echo their sentiments.

Just don't.

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Specializes in Adult Primary Care.
OP: Wise counsel ^^ here. I echo their sentiments.

Just don't.

Agree 100%

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Specializes in allergy and asthma, urgent care.

Add me to the list who agree with the above. I think it's crucial that you find different ways of coping with stress that won't endanger your career. Given that you are scared to go without the drug, I advise that you do seek some counseling.

Best of luck.

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Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.

kimpup123, your gut feeling is confirmed by these wise and caring comrades so it's up to you to take the next step and "seal the deal." Based on your post, I know you can walk away from this and walk toward a successful professional future.

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Specializes in 15 years in ICU, 22 years in PACU.
I've never smoked pot, but I don't judge those who do. However, if you wish to be a nurse, there is no way in the current climate that you can continue to do both. I suggest you take a little time and go over to the Nurses in Recovery forum, and have a read of what those nurses are going through. If you read all of that, and then still think it's a good idea, have at it and good luck. You will need all the luck in the world, because if you ever test positive, you will wish that you had never touched the stuff. One slip and your entire future is in jeopardy. The BON will make your life absolutely miserable. Beyond miserable actually. Look, I get it...I live in chronic pain. There's nothing I'd like more than to get an MMJ card because of my chronic health issues, but I've worked my tail off for 29 years to get where I am and it's just not worth it. You will not find support nor understanding on this forum....just giving you forewarning. You have to make the choice...which one do you want more? You can't have both.

Here's a scenario for you....you test positive while in school, you get dismissed from the program, and you'll never get into another nursing school again ever. All the money you spent thus far on your degree is wasted and you still have to pay it back with no prospects for the future. Student loans ain't so fun on a McDonald's salary. Or...you graduate, get a job, test positive, and then the BON get their hands on you and make you go through a 3-5 year mandated program with mandatory meetings, frequent (weekly) drug tests at a time of their convenience, your license will have a restriction on it, you'll likely lose your job, and then while you're trying to pay all the bills for the tests and therapy they'll make you do, you won't be able to find another job because no one will hire you. If you're looking for the quickest most effective way of ruining your life, this is it.

Let the nurses who thought they could do both tell you their sad tales of woe.

Scares me into yet another day of sobriety. (Over 10,000 and counting)

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Specializes in Rehab, Ortho-Spine, Med-Surg, & Psych.

Rx: Ativan

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Specializes in Neuro.

The good news is you recognize you have an issue to deal with here and seem to want to actually do something about it. Like a previous poster said, you need to probably see your PCP & a counselor to guide you through this process and learn how to deal with your stress. You sound like you understand the level of consequence looking you in the face should you continue your risky habit.

Good luck, stay sober, become a great nurse.

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I'm sort of scared (1) to face my second year without it at all and (2) face life without it at all period!

Unlike some of the others commenting, I have smoked in the past. I will admit I like marijuana. A nice relaxing buzz with no hangover or belligerence. And I look forward to the day when its no longer a Schedule 1 narcotic.

But I dont use it, alcohol or any other substance (especially food ie stress eating) as a stress coping mechanism. For that I run, I work out, or I vent to my spouse. I try to do channel my stress into a healthy activity.

I do not and never will use foreign substances to over come stress. I have a beer with my dinner on occasion because I like the taste of that particular beer with tacos, not because I had a "hard day".

As others have said you need to learn more effective and healthier coping mechanisms.

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Specializes in Stepdown . Telemetry.

I used to smoke pot years ago before nursing and my experience has been when weed gets to a frequent use level, there is a chronic sense of haziness. That definitely doesnt mix with nursing.

I have no desire to smoke weed at this point in my life but have been there in my younger days. Now, post-weed, i see how cloudy things were, and would never desire to relive such a haze.

Nurses need to be sharp and alert, and i feel like frequent or daily use even if only at night would likely affect one's functioning in the day, esp as a nurse.

So no judgement here, just passing on my experience!

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