Nurses Who Smoke Marijuana

Nurses Recovery

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I am currently taking my prerequisites for Nursing. I know two nurses, one is a friend of my mothers and she is a Nurse Practitioner and my boyfriend's mother is a charge nurse in the ICU. Both of them smoke Marijuana (occasionally) and they haven't had any issues with their career. Although I have seen a thread on allnurses talking about a woman being fired from her job because she tested positive for Marijuana during a random drug test at work. So my question is, why do some people get FIRED for smoking marijuana but some don't and continue to advance in their career with no issues? Is it just because they didn't get caught through drug testing? Do Nurses know when their employers will be giving drug tests or how often?

Thanks!

Besides, honesty, doesn't it stay in your system for an unsure amount of time? With that being said, isn't it possible to also affect your capabilities for an undetermined amount of time. I'm guessing that would be the reason for not hiring a medical professional even when the have a "legal" prescription for marijuana.

I welcome any input on the subject whether you are for or against the legalization of marijuana. I'm particularly interested in thoughts about whether or not you think medical professionals have the right to practice if they are prescribed marijuana by a doctor

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I have to agree...if someone requires mind altering medication to function, maybe what they really see is a break. This is going to start a whole load of banter. At least I hope it will. I feel like as a society we have become accustomed to putting a band aid on things. But then, when then the band aid is effective we abandon the search for a better treatment option. I mean, just because the band worked doesn't mean we would leave the nasty thing on for all eternity.

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So, my thought is this...where to draw the line. I know healthcare professionals that routinely take Xanax and provide patient care. And some will argue that Xanax doesn't effect their aboto practice just like those who argue that marijuana doesn't effect their ability to practice. Should we draw the line based on the "scheduled" classification of a medication? Because speaking from experience I have taken the antidepressant Wellbutrin and feel I was better able to mange my life and care for my patients. Yet some will say that techno, doesn't that also alter your mind? And better yet some will say their requirement for insulin to manage diabetes is no different. But seriously can we compare apples to apples here?

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The whole issue speaks to a bigger issue. That issue being the stigma associated with mental health disorders. When in Gods name will we recognize substance abuse, anxiety, depression and so on as legitimate diagnoses? Only then will one be able to take the necessary time off for appropriate treatment and have a job to return when mind altering (band-aid) medications are no longer required to function!

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Well, I don't care if it's legalized or not, it's never been my thing. I'll say that at my facility, we have never had an issue with MJ users, but we have fired several nurses over the past year for other ilicit drug use, it's kind of alarming, especially when one of those nurses passed away from OD'ing RIP.

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Overland1 said:
Like... ummmm.... wow, man... what was the question, man?

Seriously, just because something has been legalized (to whatever extent) or at least decriminalized in some states, an employer may still enforce its own rules concerning that item or substance. We are told those rules when applying for a job, and are expected to understand them upon accepting the position.

And meanwhile, the number of nurses I have encountered in my career who are functional alcoholics is astounding. It is definitely BS that a nurse can be burned at the stake for smoking a joint while on vacation...but what can you do? Got to play by the rules if you want to practice nursing.

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Yeah its a dumb and over-reaching, control freak nursey-poo rule that you can't smoke weed if that's your choice. However, its a reality. Some nurses get away with it & some don't. Not worth the risk. Abuse legal substances instead. They are more likely to kill you or ruin your life but they won't anger the Gods of the Piss Test

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I personally have 2 acquaintances who work at hospitals as nurses and they smoke marijuana regularly. One more example is my cousin who delivers babies for a hospital and she smokes with her boyfriend on occasion.

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Specializes in NICU/Neonatal transport.

I am amused at how the thread has evolved over the years.

I'm in CA (pot is legal recreationally >21 years) and I can't imagine they would ever do a random drug screen here on large swathes - they wouldn't have any staff left LOL

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I still think it's ridiculous that MJ is a schedule 1 drug. Until it's legalized, like alcohol, nurses will continue to get in trouble in States where it isn't. It creates too much revenue for law enforcement for them to turn loose of the control that easily. Half the arrests I see would just go away... I don't know, just so many things at play here. And I'm just musing.

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Specializes in NICU/Neonatal transport.
1 hour ago, Persephone Paige said:

I still think it's ridiculous that MJ is a schedule 1 drug. Until it's legalized, like alcohol, nurses will continue to get in trouble in States where it isn't. It creates too much revenue for law enforcement for them to turn loose of the control that easily. Half the arrests I see would just go away... I don't know, just so many things at play here. And I'm just musing.

Oh I totally agree, plus it is still illegal federally. Just at least from my state, it would seem as though once you are hired, as long as you aren't suspected of coming to work impaired or using other substances, they won't test, since it is recreationally legal in the state and they want to have employees overall.

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Specializes in Psych, HIV/AIDS.

I have alot of friends (outside of nursing) that use marijuana. I don't judge them for the choices they make, but they understand that I will always choose not to partake as i value my job more than the risks that I could face.

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