Random drug tests

Nurses LPN/LVN

Published

Hi im an LPN in the iowa/nebraska/south dakota area. (yes my city is divided into three states, they are all compact states). I dont do random drug tests at my facility they only do one when you first get hired.

I am drug free but I still have concerns because I am around 2nd hand marijuana smoke every once in awhile. One of these days when I leave the place I work and move on to a facility that does more strict drug testing im afraid I might have my entire career that I worked so hard for destroyed. That would be the worst thing ever... So im wondering am I alone? Are there any other nurses out there that hang around people that have a little smoke in your car once in awhile? I always have them crack a window open but I get really anxious when I can smell it. I keep thinking "oh no my urine is getting dirtier and dirtier with each breath!". Its always me driving and him in the passenger seat.

I dont hang out with a bad crowd. This person is a family member and hes not a bad person for lighting up a little pot once in awhile, it just kinda keeps him from getting a decent job. He doesnt force me to do anything he knows that I cant put my career at risk. In the midwest you cant do ANYTHING with pot on your record. I know its a ridiculous world we live in. The law treats pot like its some kind of dangerous drug.

Anyway... just want to know anyone else around pot enough to smell it in the air around you but dont smoke it and do a lot of random drug tests? It would be nice to know beause if it anyone has ever lost a job from 2nd hand marijuana smoke im probably going to have to have a "no pot in the car" policy. Of course... he'll probably just tell me im being overly worried or something.

Here's a radical idea- don't let people do drugs in your car.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

OP....I think that if your family member respects you they will refrain from smoking pot in your car. It's not so much that you will get a positive drug test...which in all likely hood you won't result positive. It the criminal charges that will result when you get pulled over and the entire car smells of marijuana. This can lead to having to go to the BON and having your nurses license revoked....possibly for good and at the very least will result on restrictions on your license and drug/addiction programs that you will be mandated to attend.

Is that worth having your family member smoke pot in your car? You have A LOT to loose! But you and your family member are adults and are free to make your own choices.....I do caution you however...that AN, although anonymous, it a public forum and can be seen by anyone and one should be cautious about posting information that you do not want to be public. As per the TOS......."It is a small world - when you narrow it down to a state and throw in some personal info, there is actually a pretty good chance someone may recognize you if you are not careful. Your privacy is paramount to us."

As a reminder, we need to be nice when we disagree......allnurses loves a good debate.....

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Specializes in Orthopedic, LTC, STR, Med-Surg, Tele.

Sorry, but all the OP had to ask was "will I test positive for marijuana if I'm exposed to second hand smoke?" Adding specifics like it's my relative, he smokes in the car with me in it... meh.

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Specializes in 4.

Funny how we are all nurses yet I see so many here on AN that have forgotten their theraputic communication skills. Any nurse questioning anything should be able to come here & ask whatever they need too without anyone passing judgement. I don't necessarily agree with some nurses on this forum but I respect everyone's opinion. The OP deserves respect & the opportunity to ask whatever questions he needs too.

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Specializes in Nurse aid, some LPN clinicals.

Well like I said its a relative. very close relative. Guess ill try to enforce a no smoking policy in the car maybe he wont be like that. And hes not a b/f a lot of people kinda been talking like he is but im a guy, a straight guy and ive been close friends/relative to this person since we were born. (I have this posted at the end of this whole topic im new to this site I meant to post it here)

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[h=5]THC Retention Time[/h]

  • Infrequent (less than twice/week) Smoking: When screening assays of 50 ng/mL or greater are used, urine samples will generally be positive for 1-3 days.
  • Regular (several times per week) Smoking: May result in urine specimens testing positive for 7-21 days.
  • Chronic (daily) Smoking: An individual who smokes marijuana daily for prolonged periods of time can test positive for 30 days or longer.
  • Oral Ingestion: Metabolic profiles in urine samples cannot generally differentiate between marijuana ingested orally versus marijuana ingested by smoking. However, oral ingestion requires approximately three times more THC than smoking to produce similar effects or "highs"; therefore, visual detection of the marijuana in the ingested item would seem reasonable, thus ruling out unknown consumption. Retention time of orally ingested marijuana ranges from 1-5 days.
  • Passive Inhalation: In general, routine passive exposure to marijuana smoke will not result in a positive result for cannabinoids in excess of a 50 ng/mL screening cut-off.



    http://www.redwoodtoxicology.com/resources/drug_info/marijuana.html

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Thanks Spidey's mom. Good to know. But still the issue here is why would anyone even if close, let someone smoke anything in their car? I have an old beat up car and not even a ciggie would be allowed. I think pot needs to be legalized but since it is not, who is going to let someone smoke that in their car? I smell it all over the place but that does not mean I would drive with it smoking. Just sayin

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Two different issues here. First one - Can you test positive with passive inhalation? Well, yes but it would show passive inhalation and not that you smoked it yourself. So you'd be off the hook.

Second one - no you should not let someone smoke pot in your car, home, etc. What happened to backbone? Who can't say no to someone? :confused:

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Second one - no you should not let someone smoke pot in your car, home, etc. What happened to backbone? Who can't say no to someone? :confused:

This is an issue of morality. Morality is subjective, it is not universal. Different people have different opinions based upon their own individual moral compass.

What is moral and what is lawful are not synonymous. Abortion, anyone? Gay marriage? Smoking pot?

As an RN, I believe that I have an obligation to provide objective, non-biased, accurate information to those with questions. I believe in the harm reduction model, which basically means that if someone is going to smoke pot, drink alcohol, or inject heroin, I'm going to provide them with accurate, unbaised information with the aim of reducing the potential for personal harm and harm to others through doing these things. Alcohol is perfectly legal. Do we tell people "Don't drink"? No, we tell them "Don't drink and drive, because drunk driving kills people." No different.

I'd also like to mention, as an aside, that some states do allow open containers in cars.

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Specializes in Orthopedic, LTC, STR, Med-Surg, Tele.

The way I see it, it's just illegal. Just like you shouldn't take benzos that don't belong to you, or drink then get behind the wheel of a car, or smoke weed. Not really a gray area, especially for a healthcare provider.

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All kinds of things are illegal:

Strange and Funny: 53 Crazy Laws

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Specializes in family nurse practitioner.

I sorta feel bad for the OP, he said he is knew to this site. I hope we havent scared him off :). OP, I think we all just want to see you not get in any trouble as you feel apprehensive about the random drug testing thing. Its your world, we are just in it. Do whats best for you. Good luck with your family member/friend. It will all work out if you just communicate your concerns with him. I would like to welcome you to this site. Keep coming back. Be blessed

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