Nursing student taking drugs

Published

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

I got through about 10 pages. IMO go to your state's Nurse Practice Act. What does it say? Are you required to report? What about your school's ethics policy?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psych, ER, Resp/Med, LTC, Education.

THANK YOU RUTTER MAMMA!!!! I agree. An RN/LPN is a nurse, on duty or off. Absolutlty not okay. I work in psych and chemical dependency and know how drug abuse can ruin a career, and can harm others. And it should not matter if the nurse is off duty or on the fact is this is illegal behavior. If caught you can lose your nursing license even if caught in your spare time! That person using needs to stop even if that means rehab. They are representing the profession and that means not using illegal drugs! Sorry guys but I'm with Rutter mama on this one.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in HOSPICE.

Absolutely nothing unless they were hitting it before walking onto the floor

Up Vote Up Vote ×

OTC85, thanks I couldn't have said it better myself. :doh: Personally if you ask me, the only reason why the govn't won't legalize marijuana is because it would be difficult to regulate and thus tax, because it is not manufactured but can be grwon in anyone's backyard! The govn't makes a lot of money from seizing the profits and assets obtained from the sale of illegal marijuana. Legalizing it would prove catastrophic to that stream of income.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CNA duties.

i believe that if marajuana jus has to be illegal, cigarrettes and alcohol should have been prohibited a long time ago. cigarrettes and alcohol have wayyyyyy more serious and life threatening affects than mj. im not a smoker but i know mj and cigarrette smokers, and alcohol consumers. alcohol makes them out of control (fighting, crying, hurtin ppl and themselves, affect their children and everyone around them's lives).....cigarrette smokers put anyone in contact with them in potential danger because of 2nd hand smoke (which is proven to be almost as dangerous as actually smoking a cigarrette [which is pretty dangerous to your lungs]).....ppl that i know to smoke mj only have to worry about their parents (high school aged kids) and the law.... i observed that mj usually makes ppl a little more "laid-back" and not in a "high" way, in a "healthy blood pressure" kinda way.... and the mental effects of mj use wears off and usually doesn't stick around too long so.....y not? saying you wouldnt trust a nurse who smokes marajuana is about the same, if not worse, than saying you wouldnt trust a nurse/doctor who drinks a glass of wine a day....and i know that ppl will say that wine is good for you...but think about this "marajuana was once a legally prescribed drug"....so doesn't that mean that its good for you also???

....feedback please....

ps. dont get me wrong im not saying its ok for nurses to smoke on work/clinical days....not even the night before...

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Last semester I overheard about half of my clinical group members talk about their use of various drugs. I was surprised, and this is an area I feel very strongly about, but they're not endangering their patients or their education so I can't do or say anything about it. They're still awesome people and will be amazing nurses.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
THANK YOU RUTTER MAMMA!!!! I agree. An RN/LPN is a nurse, on duty or off. Absolutlty not okay. I work in psych and chemical dependency and know how drug abuse can ruin a career, and can harm others. And it should not matter if the nurse is off duty or on the fact is this is illegal behavior. If caught you can lose your nursing license even if caught in your spare time! That person using needs to stop even if that means rehab. They are representing the profession and that means not using illegal drugs! Sorry guys but I'm with Rutter mama on this one.

:up::yeah::coollook::clown::loveya::trout::bowingpur:monkeydance::yeahthat::1luvu::caduceus::nmbrn::rcgtku::anpom::rckn::hpygrp::tku::urck:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psychiatric nursing.

Marijuana is a powerful mind altering drug. If a person suspects a nurse or nursing student using a mind altering drug, they should report it immediatly. Nursing students know that they can be subjected to a urine drug screen at anytime.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

mind-altering like...going form mowing the lawn and cleaning out the garage tooooo sitting on the couch and eating an entire bag of doritos?:wink2:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I'm sorry... these responses are absurd! Anti-depressants, sleep aids... DR PERSCRIBED meds are one thing... absolutely NOTHING wrong with them. And - to not say anything about a fellow student or co-worker abusing drugs... come on people! :confused:

It's ILLEGIAL :banghead:... it's WRONG :banghead: ... it's DANGEROUS!:banghead: These students/professionals have real people's lives in their hands!!! If I KNEW that a student in my class - or a co-worker was abusing drugs - of ANY kind... I would go to our superior - IMMEDIATELY!

Please - Please do the right thing! This person could be caring for MY husband or son one day!!!

:no::no::no:

The right thing, IMO, is minding ones own business UNLESS one knows that said person is under the influence during work hours or does this while on call. If that is the case, yes- alerting someone is definately called for. USING a substance is very different from ABUSING a substance. I'd say drinking to the point of intoxication is just as dangerous- if not moreso. IMO? Let the police and lawyers worry about laws. All anyone else should be worried about in this situation is whether or not said person is putting anyone's health/life at risk. The impairment to judgement would be the same whether one were under the influence of marijuana, alcohol or even *sleep deprivation* (and who hasn't done THAT one, probably on a regular basis?) Don't get me wrong- I think it's a VERY BAD choice on their part- it's a risk that can get them into trouble and one I wouldn't take myself- but I also think that it's none of anyone's business what they do on their personal time unless they are on call or could be exposing themselves to a situation where they are under the influence of (anything) while patients are in their care. MHO.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
THANK YOU RUTTER MAMMA!!!! I agree. An RN/LPN is a nurse, on duty or off. Absolutlty not okay. I work in psych and chemical dependency and know how drug abuse can ruin a career, and can harm others. And it should not matter if the nurse is off duty or on the fact is this is illegal behavior. If caught you can lose your nursing license even if caught in your spare time! That person using needs to stop even if that means rehab. They are representing the profession and that means not using illegal drugs! Sorry guys but I'm with Rutter mama on this one.

psychRNinNY, you are awsome!

I LOVE IT! :yeah:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
If alcohol is was more problematic than pot - then it would be completely illegal also. Pot has long term effects on the brain, lungs, heart, circulatory system etc... Guess we just have to agree to disagree...

Interesting...I've never noticed two people high on pot exchanging blows, just laughing it up and enjoying themselves. I've never heard of a pot-related death.....Now alcohol on the other hand: drunk-driving deaths, murders, domestic abuse (with pot, only domestic use:chuckle), bar fights (bong fights nope:chuckle), beer balls (who wants to fight when they're smokin'), beer goggles, stomach pumpings, alcohol poisoning (pot poisoning anyone?), etc. etc. and etc.

It's such ashame tax payer money is wasted enforcing marijuana control laws when alcohol kills, mames, destroys, and drastically alters forever the lives of millions nationwide and abroad....

:clown: + :chuckle + :D + :zzzzz

:banghead: + :cry: + :crying2: + :no:

any :confused:

This has been a public service announcement from me, don't take it too seriously lol :chuckle:chuckle

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion