random drug tests?

ilstu99 · Jul 18, 2008

I drive fast- sometimes reeeaaallly fast.
Speeding is illegal, and I am willing to break the law when it suits my personal needs in regard to the speed limit. Should I then be suspended from work when I get a speeding ticket, simply because I have that disregard for authority?
(ilstu99- I'm not jumping on you, just making a point- I think a lot of people feel the same way as what you posted.)
Basically, who really cares what people do on their days off? Although, I suppose you don't know based on a drug test whether they are high right now while participating in patient care. The same goes for alcohol- some alcoholics could be drunk and you wouldn't even know.
I don't have a good answer...

I didn't think you were jumping on me....seeing as how what you added was pretty similar to the second half of my post.

People who speed past me scare me WAY more. The potential there for several people to get hurt is much higher than if someone hangs out in their living room and smokes a joint.

But nursing is pretty uppity about integrity....and for good reason. If that's my daughter or my husband in the bed....relying on you to make sure they don't die and receive great care...I want their nurse to be someone I can trust. Sooooo....I try to maintain my life in a trustworthy way, too. People who break the law? Less trustworthy. Just the way it is. People who disregard the law, and are then bothered because others treat them differently? Well.....ummmm......waaah. If they don't like the way it feels, they could try changing their behavior.

Really, it's a pretty slippery slope. How much weed would be okay? Just a little weed a few times a year? As long as you are never arrested? As long as you never came to work stoned? KWIM? So I think the answer HAS to be...."none."

uscstu4lfe · Jul 18, 2008

hmm, i wonder if anyone here gets a nose bleed from taking the high road all of the time?

we don't have random drug testing at my hospital. two managers must agree to drug test an employee if there is reasonable suspicion.

my personal opinion: i don't think it should be anyone's business what you do on your own time, away from the hospital.

i also pose this question to you guys: let's say i'm normally clean as a whistle. something traumatic happens and i decide to take a friend's valium. a few days letter i am randomly drug tested and it comes back positive. do you really think i should lose my job for that??

Bortaz, MSN, RN · Jul 18, 2008

One of the problems is that marijuana is considered a 'gateway' drug by a lot of people, including the government of the United States. And, nurses have almost immediate access to the drugs that are on the other side of that gateway.

The powers that be see the use of MJ by healthcare workers as leading to the theft and 'intemperate use' of narcotics.

Maybe they're right, I don't know.

aloevera · Jul 18, 2008

I did my thesis on this subject....I found that smoking MJ does not lead to harder drugs......

just my .02

Bortaz, MSN, RN · Jul 18, 2008

my personal opinion: i don't think it should be anyone's business what you do on your own time, away from the hospital.

Do you limit that policy to just smoking weed, or is everything fair game "on your own time"? What about heroin? Crack cocaine? LSD?

Do you want a crackhead caring for your baby? Your spouse?

We could take this ever further: Abusing my wife? Kids? Incest? Ok "on my own time"?

I have a feeling you don't really believe "it shouldn't ne anyone's business what you don on your own time, away from the hospital". I believe you just think you should be able to smoke pot.

What it boils down to is: You CAN do anything you want to do, outside of work. If you're willing to meet the consequences. Most people aren't.

I did my thesis on this subject....I found that smoking MJ does not lead to harder drugs......
just my .02

While I'm sure you're a fine researcher, I doubt your sample size was sufficient to make that assertion.

uscstu4lfe · Jul 18, 2008

my oh my! you are awfully melodramatic! How you could even relate incest to my original post is beyond me

Bortaz, MSN, RN · Jul 19, 2008

As you well know, I didn't relate anything to your post. I gave you an opportunity to see how silly that statement was, the one where you said "my personal opinion: i don't think it should be anyone's business what you do on your own time, away from the hospital." And to see if you could perhaps support it.

sissiesmama, ASN, RN · Jul 19, 2008

my oh my! you are awfully melodramatic! How you could even relate incest to my original post is beyond me

It would be nice if some of the comments like this could be phrased a little differently, even if that's what you're thinking. We are all professionals here. Looks like you have a little drama going on in this post.

Don't roast me, please, I don't know you, just my .02 And, no I'm not a moderator, just making a comment.

Anne, RNC :banghead:

aloevera · Jul 19, 2008

Yes, I did pretty extensive research (but this was back in the 70's) about those that smoked MJ....did not also use the harder drugs....

I don't know how it would be now.....

this is off subject of post, I know, but my husband of 30 yrs. will not even take an aspirin...no pills whatsoever...but he sure likes his occasional joint.....he is healthy as a horse....maybe something we don't know ???

Lighten up ~!!!!

Jo Dirt · Jul 20, 2008

One of the problems is that marijuana is considered a 'gateway' drug by a lot of people, including the government of the United States. And, nurses have almost immediate access to the drugs that are on the other side of that gateway.
The powers that be see the use of MJ by healthcare workers as leading to the theft and 'intemperate use' of narcotics.
Maybe they're right, I don't know.

Well, we all know how well the US government is known for its integrity.

Russian spy planes, anyone?

Jo Dirt · Jul 20, 2008

Yes, I did pretty extensive research (but this was back in the 70's) about those that smoked MJ....did not also use the harder drugs....
I don't know how it would be now.....
this is off subject of post, I know, but my husband of 30 yrs. will not even take an aspirin...no pills whatsoever...but he sure likes his occasional joint.....he is healthy as a horse....maybe something we don't know ???
Lighten up ~!!!!

My husband has smoked it before. He was a more pleasant person for it. I don't smoke it but I would rather be around mellow potheads than uppity know-it-alls who put everyone else on a tight moral budget but leave plent of allowance for themselves.

The average person thinks they are better than the average person.

Two farmers were busted for pot here in this county. They had a MJ burning party at the courthouse, and the picture was on the front page of the newspaper. I wasn't the only person who thought it a little odd the sherrif and his deputies were standing right around that fire without their biohazard suits and filtered masks on for their protection from that horrible toxic "substance."

Those farmer dudes are in jail, but according to the paper the most serious charges against them stem from tax evasion and not reporting income.

Wonder if the government really thinks about protecting us from things harmful to our health or if bigger issues are involved? Maybe it has to do with regulations and money.

Na. Couldn't be.

Wonder how much the pharma companies makes from selling marinol?

heygurlhey · Jul 31, 2008

I work for a very large magnet hospital (we even have our own zip code) and they dont even drug test new hires! Im sure if you filed a workmans' comp. claim or acted like you were on drugs they would have the cup out waiting. Im sure its all about the almighty dollar, cause they have at least fifty people for new hire orientation every two weeks. Even $10 a pop starts to add up fast.