Nurses Who Smoke Marijuana

[NenaRK]

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!

[tewdles, RN]

I am dismayed that the nurse who had a legal medical marijuana card was not hired because of it...

Would that also have been true if the nurse had tested postive for ativan or some other med for which he/she had an RX?

Like the other medications included on the drug screens, marijuana actually has proven medical benefit for some people in some circumstances, often with fewer side effects than other more "traditional" medications.

so sad...

[elkpark]

tewdles said:

I am dismayed that the nurse who had a legal medical marijuana card was not hired because of it...

Would that also have been true if the nurse had tested postive for ativan or some other med for which he/she had an RX?

Like the other medications included on the drug screens, marijuana actually has proven medical benefit for some people in some circumstances, often with fewer side effects than other more "traditional" medications.

so sad...

I don't have any personal experience or knowledge, but I do know that some members have posted here in the past that the BONs in some states do not allow individuals taking psychoactive medications (like Ativan) with a rx, under a physician's supervision, to practice. No psychoactive meds, period, with or without a rx.

[itsnowornever, BSN, RN]

Quote

I am dismayed that the nurse who had a legal medical marijuana card was not hired because of it...

Would that also have been true if the nurse had tested postive for ativan or some other med for which he/she had an RX?

Like the other medications included on the drug screens, marijuana actually has proven medical benefit for some people in some circumstances, often with fewer side effects than other more "traditional" medications.

so sad...

Why be dismayed? My husband who is a police officer would take away your drivers license for the marihuana, why not your nursing license? He would also remove it if you were taking Percocet or Vicodin- if your condition is such that you need that "medication" for glaucoma or constant pain, then you do not need to drive either or you need to refrain until your condition is better.

Posting from my phone, ease forgive my fat thumbs! ?

[stephanie.]

Quote

Why be dismayed? My husband who is a police officer would take away your drivers license for the marihuana, why not your nursing license? He would also remove it if you were taking Percocet or Vicodin- if your condition is such that you need that "medication" for glaucoma or constant pain, then you do not need to drive either or you need to refrain until your condition is better.

Posting from my phone, ease forgive my fat thumbs! ?

Yeah- because I want a nurse who's high to take care of me. Please.

If she screws up and hurts someone does she get to pull the "I have a med marj card, it's ok"?

[stephanie.]

I meant to quote a different post.

Anyway- I have an Rx that our nursing students are drug tested for. You better believe that no matter how much pain I'm in, I won't open that bottle.

[tewdles, RN]

So the assumption is that if a nurse has a mj card, all legal and everything, that the nurse is getting high and working?

ok then...

[stephanie.]

Quote

So the assumption is that if a nurse has a mj card, all legal and everything, that the nurse is getting high and working?

ok then...

If the nurse is testing positive... It's the only assumption to have. Especially when the care of others is in the nurses hands.

[itsnowornever, BSN, RN]

Quote

Yeah- because I want a nurse who's high to take care of me. Please.

If she screws up and hurts someone does she get to pull the "I have a med marj card, it's ok"?

LOL! I was gonna say "I'm on your side!" LOL

Posting from my phone, ease forgive my fat thumbs! ?

[tewdles, RN]

stephanie. said:

If the nurse is testing positive... It's the only assumption to have. Especially when the care of others is in the nurses hands.

And you do understand that a person who may test positive for marijuana on a typical drug screen is not necessarily high, right?

[stephanie.]

Quote

And you do understand that a person who may test positive for marijuana on a typical drug screen is not necessarily high, right?

No. I'm an idiot. I had no idea.

And your argument is for the HR dept who withdrew their offer to the nurse, not me.

[tewdles, RN]

stephanie. said:

No. I'm an idiot. I had no idea.

And your argument is for the HR dept who withdrew their offer to the nurse, not me.

Of course you understand that there are nurses undergoing chemotherapy who may be using marijuana to treat their side effects...and they may still be working.

I fear that you are assuming that nurses who use marijuana do so for only recreational purposes. Obviously my post offended you, I am sorry.

There is a great deal of ignorance about marijuana in the public, including health professionals.

[CorpsmanRN, BSN, RN]

Being from a state that has "legalized" marijuana, I think some people forget that it is still a Federal offense to use marijuana. States can say all they want that it is legal but the DEA comes in and shuts down marijuana shops because they are breaking federal law. As someone posted before, the legal part simply allows you to have a small amount in your possession (at least in our state). Safest bet, don't use it.