Nurses smoking weed?

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Hey nurses,

In honor of "420" tomorrow... As a health-care professional, what are your thoughts on smoking weed? Any nurses out there that smoke a joint here and there?

Cheers.

Specializes in Surgery Vascular/Endovascular/Trauma.
I don't have a problem with other people doing it, but I am of the opinion that a workplace has the right to hire anyone they want. My workplace doesn't hire cigarette smokers knowingly. I think if they prefer someone who can pass a drug test, that's their right. If you're hired somewhere that expects you to be drug free, do the honorable thing and be drug free. It is ridiculous to put a (usually unnecessary) habit like that in front of your career. However, if your job allows it... by all means, enjoy it. I enjoyed a joint or two before nursing school ;)

You do know that some hospitals are testing for the presence of nicotine in the pre-hire phase?

It should be noted that tobacco is legal, but the cost to the hospital in insurance premiums is higher if you have smokers as employees.

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Specializes in Surgery Vascular/Endovascular/Trauma.
Nurse Jerky.

I like my nurses well seasoned and we'll marinated! 😃

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Specializes in Surgery Vascular/Endovascular/Trauma.
Instead of losing sponges inside the patient they will be dropping Cheeze Doodles.

I wonder if the Doodle will simply be absorbed by the body?

I heard of a resident who had a cheese doodle drop from his mask into a patient. The patient survived.. The resident didn't...

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I like my nurses well seasoned and we'll marinated! [emoji2]

Get in line. [emoji7]

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You want my feelings about marijuana? Personally I think it's safer than alcohol but again I don't do either.[/quote']

Not just picking on you because a number of individuals in this post have echoed similar sentiments. With all due respect, and while I understand it is yours (and others) opinion, I don't totally agree with that opinion. If considering casual use such as an occasional glass of wine with dinner vs an occasional joint I don't know that one is more/less dangerous in general. However alcohol is legal across the country, whereas marijuana is not, so from a sociological POV, right or wrong, for a casual drinker/user, alcohol is generally a "safer" option.

If we're talking about an unhealthy relationship with alcohol vs marijuana there is no denying the psychological/social ramifications of alcohol use; however I wouldn't be so quick to say similar issues might not be possible with chronic marijuana use. Research is limited, but there have been a couple recent studies that point out possible problems with marijuana (as legalization increases we'll learn more about it's safety in short/long term use).

For example, one study showed that while short term use of marijuana may help some with anxiety,

much like a benzo does or an opiate does for pain, long term use has the potential to do as benzos/opiates do in potentiating the anxiety/pain. Other research has linked an increased incidence of chronic marijuana use from teens to early adulthood with a an eventual dx of schizophrenia (I'm not implying causation, just a link).

Someone also mentioned use in PTSD. Again, it may help with some symptoms as very limited research indicates, but there is at least 1 study where it was noted that there's an increased incidence of violence among users. If not mistaken there was recently approval for a nationwide study of our vets and marijuana use so hopefully we'll learn more about the risks/benefits.

Having said that, I also readily admit there are a number of studies that support its use (in a number of its derivatives) for a number of medical conditions (e.g., chronic pain, easing SEs with chemo, asthma, IBS, Crohn's, glaucoma, etc.).

Working with veterans, I was often asked my opinion about marijuana. While I wouldn't encourage their use I would never chastise someone for wanting to try it. If it works for you, it works for you, but I'd present the potential risks/benefits in as unbiased a manner as possible. I look at its use similar to use of an antidepressant for people with a bipolar disorder--research is very mixed, but for any given individual it might prove quite helpful.

No matter what 1 thinks about virtues (or evils) of marijuana, it is not safe for all and I just get a bit uncomfortable when we as medical professionals start saying that 1 substance of abuse is safer than another; use in spite of known consequences is problematic no matter the name of the substance, not that there might not be some degree of accuracy in that statement, but that it delivers the wrong message to those who are seeking our medical opinion.

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I know a few nurses that smoke weed and I have used to help with sleep. Sometimes I just use a tincture and I found it to be very helpful. It is legal where I live and my current job only drug tested when first hired on. I prefer it to sleeping pills or benadryl because it doesn't make me wake up groggy.

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I know a few nurses that smoke weed and I have used to help with sleep. Sometimes I just use a tincture and I found it to be very helpful. It is legal where I live and my current job only drug tested when first hired on. I prefer it to sleeping pills or benadryl because it doesn't make me wake up groggy.

I'd only advise caution in general on this--While your employer may not do random drug tests, it is possible that if you were to get a needle stick or other exposure to bodily fluids or some other injury on the job, or if the narcotic count is off, drug tests might be a part of the standard protocol.

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Specializes in Adult MICU/SICU.

Definitely not meant to be unkind, but if it did I certainly would never admit to it publicly.

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Studies have shown that with consistent use a person no longer has reasoning problems that is associated with occasional use, I'd have to say it would be up to a hospital to make policy that would make it possible. Problem is they are testing for nicotine as a metabolite so I don't see hospitals developing a will to D/C drug testing for marijuana anytime soon.

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So if it was federally legalized which I do believe will happen the near future would anyone think it much different than a beer or glass of wine? Just out of curiosity to add to the discussion.

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So if it was federally legalized which I do believe will happen the near future would anyone think it much different than a beer or glass of wine? Just out of curiosity to add to the discussion.

Probably not. But whether or not it's legalized, employers still are free to fire nurses who test positive for weed, alcohol, or, in more recent cases, nicotine.

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Nurses smoking weed? Why? How does it benefit anyone let alone nurses (not talking about medical marijuana here)? Certainly we've been educated about healthier measures to relax and de-stress. Let's use our expertise to "nurse" ourselves.

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