Nursing student taking drugs

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What would you do if you found out that a fellow nursing student is smoking marijuana?

It's been my experience that petitions never really do much. Prop 8 still passed, the world still has prejudices, and I'm still working, rather than living out the rest of my days in a beautiful tropical paradise.

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Sorry to have hijacked this thread. We now return you to our regular programming! And the OP's original question.

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Enforced or removed. Absolutely. Why don't you start the petition?

Shouldn't you be the one starting the petition then? You seem to be be the one concerned with whatever is on the books. There are alot of laws that are not enforced because the police thinks the resources are better spent elsewhere. The laws are probably kept on the books simply for show or for "just in case" legality purposes.

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Specializes in CDI Supervisor; Formerly NICU.
Shouldn't you be the one starting the petition then? You seem to be be the one concerned with whatever is on the books. There are alot of laws that are not enforced because the police thinks the resources are better spent elsewhere. The laws are probably kept on the books simply for show or for "just in case" legality purposes.

Yes, there are a lot of laws that are not enforced. This thread, however, despite all the efforts to redirect it toward frivolous rabbit-chases (like your "did you pay for your music hur hur hur" posts, and LVN's bingo hall escapades), is about marijuana...which is indeed illegal, and enforced.

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Actually, that is completely inaccurate. It was completely legal to prescribe marijuana until like 40 years ago.

Marijuana is currently federally illegal due to the lobbying of certain groups that are either misinformed or have some vested financial interest in keeping it banned.

Its also ILLEGAL in my state

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Yes, there are a lot of laws that are not enforced. This thread, however, despite all the efforts to redirect it toward frivolous rabbit-chases (like your "did you pay for your music hur hur hur" posts, and LVN's bingo hall escapades), is about marijuana...which is indeed illegal, and enforced.

Last time I checked, music piracy is illegal and there are attempts to enforce it. But are you going to rat out everyone you know who does it? You say you are focused on the marijuana, but it seems like you are only concerned with its legality. As for its enforcement, that certainly varies considerably too. Is every pot-user you know in jail? Did you try to report all of them?

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Specializes in CDI Supervisor; Formerly NICU.

It has never been my position in this thread that everyone should be some super citizen running around turning in every pot smoker (or mp3 thief) they know.

My stance is that, as long as mj is illegal, it is professionally inappropriate for nurses to imbibe. Oh, and to dispute those who seem to think they're above the law and can do as they please without retribution.

I personally don't care if you smoke it up every night. I do, however, hope you get caught doing it before you endanger a patient.

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Its a tough question..but the bottom line is opinions and feelings dont matter here..its illegal. My brother smokes pot..he will tell you its occasionally( dont they all say that?) I know otherwise..I have also seen my brother, a one time honor student, football player...deteriorate into a stupid arrogant idiot who is argumentative and I can see that the pot has affected him even when he is not high..lost brain cells..my friend went to high school with his wife and she asked me once.."what the hell happened to her? she used to be so sharp" ...my brother and his wife are immature..its shines through..so I believe that pot use has long term affects and alters your personality and judgement . I DO care what nurses do on their own time..shouldnt you? everyone says they are occasional smokers..but do we really know that? how many people would readily admit to smoking pot on their every day off??

Maybe you can talk to that student and let them know that if you hear anymore about it, you will report it..its unfair that someone has even put you in that situation..

And be careful nurses and future nurses, In my state, we are considered mandated reporters and if a child was involved, you would be mandated to report it or risk losing your license...

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It has never been my position in this thread that everyone should be some super citizen running around turning in every pot smoker (or mp3 thief) they know.

My stance is that, as long as mj is illegal, it is professionally inappropriate for nurses to imbibe. Oh, and to dispute those who seem to think they're above the law and can do as they please without retribution.

I personally don't care if you smoke it up every night. I do, however, hope you get caught doing it before you endanger a patient.

Far enough. However,I dont think nurses are public role models who should be held to every law in the book (I think we have to agree to disagree here). Its not that I dont think they should or shouldnt be, just that they dont have that prominent status in society. And because I think nurses are not in the splotlight, what they do at their own time as is at their discretion. I dont believe in the slippery slope theory partly because it is taught as a logical fallacy, so I dont think a little weed on the weekends might lead to some big nursing pot ring.

I do think as far as effect on job performance goes, alcohol should either be treated as seriously as pot or pot be treated as lightly as alcohol. And that students should not report one another to perpetuate the current system.

But the reality is, MJ is illegal so any nurse who chooses to do it does so at their own peril. I do think its a stupid risk because of what they stand to loose if caught, not because it necessarily means they are endangering their patients. Its a stressful world and we all do what we have to to get by, so Im assuming the individual weighed the risks and decided it was worth it. I wont pity them if they get caught, but I wont condemn them for just that.

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Specializes in ER/Ortho.

Wow....my neck hurts for looking up at all these high horses. It is mandated that you report anything that could affect patient safety. It is NOT mandated that you police the world and tattle on everyone for any violation you see in their personal life. Will you be snooping though peoples trash, listening at closed doors and peeping through windows. If thats the case you will have to give up nursing and make it a full time job. I remember second grade when I had to wear a construction paper donkey tail during lunch because I was the "tattle tail". I now appreciate learning that lesson early in life. Don't you have more important things to worry about in your own life.

P.S. In Texas it is a law that if someone rides past a motor car on a horse the person must stop the car, and dismantle it completely until the horse passes. You may then reassemble your car and be on your way.

I also think its it illegal in most states to have oral sex (really no joke). You might try talking to some of your fellow nursing students to see if they are participating in the unethical, illegal activity, and then turn then in to the DON.

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far enough. however,i dont think nurses are public role models who should be held to every law in the book (i think we have to agree to disagree here). its not that i dont think they should or shouldnt be, just that they dont have that prominent status in society.

i'm sorry, i wasn't going to post again, but i must address something. we, as nurses, are public role models. people do look up to us for answers to questions concerning their health(watch the newest t.v. drug ad and notice how they say ask your doctor, pharmacist, or [color=lime]nurse). however, we are also human. i can be as professional as the situation calls for at work, but what i do at home has nothing to do with my 7p-7a shifts. other than that, i must agree with you.

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Let me rephrase. I guess I should say I dont think we are public-enough role models where all our actions will have repercussions on society(Eg: Obama & Zunegate). That smoking a joint isnt interpretted as some symbolic act of defiance against the law. Our private lives arnt scrutinized by the media and I personally, am thankful of that.

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