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!

Specializes in PICU, NICU, L&D, Public Health, Hospice.

The BONs are not there for our protection.

So, in states where medical marijuana is allowed, a nurse may have a valid prescription for said medication and legally use it.

It is up to the employer whether or not they will allow that in their employment situation.

The BON is going to take NO action against nurses with valid prescriptions for any controlled med unless there is a concern or problem reported to them.

I worked while using medicinal marijuana...not seeing patients because my health did not allow it, but I completed chart audits and other administrative duties. Just like with opiates, just cause you take them doesn't mean you are high.

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Your facts about alcohol related driving deaths are incorrect. I have written a book about DUI over the past two years, and have researched my facts, exhaustively- in order to spare others the agony of my own event. (YES, one drink CAN get you arrested, impaired or not- don't take the bait and believe that you have to have a certain blood alcohol level). And, NO- most auto accidents and deaths are NOT alcohol related. In fact, if you are pulled over, and blood tested, and have marijuana in your system, you WILL be not only be automatically arrested for drug DUI- you will ALSO be arrested on a second charge of possession of a controlled substance. So, then- you cannot say that having it in your system is not an issue. Also, a drug DUI (pot, beandryl, heroin, doesn't matter) carries far heavier penalties than an alcohol DUI- therefore, the people that craft DUI laws disagree with you that having marijuana in your system is not a problem.

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Good points. In fact, even with an Rx, you can be arrested for drug DUI if you provide a blood sample. Another point is that if you are on IPN, etc- even with an Rx, you are risking your license. It's a moot point whether a few states have tried to legalize marijuana, but if you feel the need to take the risk, you are free to do so. There's not a BON in America that has decriminalized marijuana, FYI.

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I'll mention this point again, while we debate alcohol, marijuana, Vicodin, and the like. In three states, I believe I discovered, you are now asked by the BON if you have been diagnosed with any mental disorder (including DEPRESSION), or have you been counseled by any mental health practitioner since your last renewal application, and are you taking ANY psychoactive medications INCLUDING antidepressants, for any condition? So, the nanny state is tightening up. Taking an antidepressant may flag your BON, that may need you to be 'evaluated', and possibly even monitored (as if you had committed a crime by treating your depression, since be neing diagnsied with depression, you may be a risk to patient safety?). So, the issue of medical and prescribed marijuana stands out front- are you really safe using that? Using anything? Forewarned= forearmed.

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Thank you for your insight. I have to say, this poster seems awfully angry (I'm assuming from the vitriole, that OP is not a nurse or in any way a health care provider)- I thought marijuana was supposed to make people mellow? For OP to say 80,000 die from alcohol, and 'o' from marijuana? Ludicrous. Alcohol is legal (no, DUI is not). Marijuana is 'illegal', and look south of the border, to see how many tens of thousands are being killed every year to get it to America?

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Specializes in Neuro Intensive Care.

I'm reading this post and I have to say its quite disturbing. Everyone's reply is merely an opinion. I think everyone should remember that before posting so angrily. I'm going to play devil's advocate and respond on both sides of the issue. First, I am a nurse in recovery, but not from marijuana. There are a few posts that bother me. As far as testing positive for THC, it does stay in your system for several days and longer depending on frequency of use, so it is possible to test positive and NOT be under the influence. But it appears the main argument is why can't a nurse smoke marijuana and still practice without any problems. Regardless of what state your in, legal or not, the BON does not accept this behavior. Nurses are professionals and are relied on by people in vulnerable situations. I don't condone any drug use, and that's through experience. I appreciate everyone's argument, and each has a valid point. But the reality is, if you want to be a nurse, give up the marijuana. You'll work to hard for that title to just flush it down the drain for one joint......it's not worth it.

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I cant argue anymore. Dave, look at the CDCs website and also your states website. It shows how many thousands of people die from drunk driving. Believe what you want I guess. Just because its legal it is still dangerous. What is your book called? I would like to read it.

I'm talking about use marijuana recreationally. Not for medicinal purposes. I'm not trying to compare it to vicodine.. Also the only reason why people get shot over pot is because it is illegal. There is such a large demand for it and drug dealers are willing to take drastic measures to make a profit. If pot is made legal and taken off the black market then that is one very large income drug that is taken out of the drug dealers hands. You guys will just have to watch and see what happens in Colorado and Washington. Because the legislation is currently going into effect.

To jwmwinter I am sorry you had a drug problem. I have a buddy who can not stop using narcotics right now. He is in denial big time. But marijuana is just so harmless. Much less than alcohol.

I am a 23 yr old med surg RN by the way.

Nick

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.
jwmwinter said:
But the reality is, if you want to be a nurse, give up the marijuana. You'll work to hard for that title to just flush it down the drain for one joint......it's not worth it.

I totally agree, even though I'm personally a proponent of allowing adults over age 21 to decide for themselves whether or not to use marijuana. I'm an ex-smoker who enjoyed MJ as much as the next person, and wouldn't have given it up EXCEPT for the fact that it is not compatible with holding a nursing license. Ergo, I don't use---that's it, end of story, finis.

It wasn't always like this, but sometimes I wonder what people do when they're confronted with this situation---weigh their options like "hmmm, do I smoke, or do I put food in my kids' mouths"? Talk about a no-brainer.......:sarcastic:

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Specializes in PICU, NICU, L&D, Public Health, Hospice.

I agree with you Viva...it doesn't work to use this drug recreationally if you are a nurse...drink alcohol instead.

It is truly unfortunate that there remains so much misinformation about marijuana as a medication that provides significant benefit to people. It seems that too many nursing professionals may just see them as "pot heads".

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Um its not just my opinion. Why do you think two states just legalized it for adults? They are millions of people that agree with me. Your husband has probably taken more licenses away for alcohol than marijuana. I feel like I am talking to a wall when arguing with you. I'm just saying in the future its going to be legal. Like it or not. Its just not harmful enough of a drug to stay illegal.

Funny, feeling is mutual. Fortunately I'm on the boards side and I have no worries. Good day! (And it's about equal as far as DL is concerned)

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

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I just want to mention there are side effects and consequences to pot. Sorry to burst a smokers bubble, but there are. Currently pot is decriminalized. In some states it's even "legal" for medical use (where I live the Feds are suing our county to put an end to reckless medical use and growth but its currently legal).

Here's my b@$ch about pot: hey did you know your casual use is a blight on MY community? Yup it is. My cute, picturesque, small town is now overrun by MS13. We have murders, assaults, and skyrocketing crime rates all relating to pot. Pot is big business. So that joint you are smoking, that one joint? Yeah just know somebody might have been murdered for that. Seems crazy just for pot, but this cash crop is poisoning the land and water, it's inciting violence, and it's doing it in SOMEONE'S back yard.

Please don't act like its some victimless crime to smoke. It's not.

Yes but there is one particular poster who will INSIST that it's harmless. ?

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

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\ said:
Good points. In fact even with an Rx, you can be arrested for drug DUI if you provide a blood sample. [/quote']

Yes you can!!!!!

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

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