recreational drug use

Brownms46 · Dec 3, 2003

Originally posted by shannon8282
Just curious...How many nursing students use recreational drugs? I don't but I know several of my fellow students do. I am curious on your opinions on this. Do I think its right? Not really. And I am not saying that they come to class stoned, but I know (for fact) that they do it out of school.

Watch the board of nursing site, for disciplinary actions after you graduate. I bet you, you will find their names there.

LauraLou · Dec 3, 2003

Our school has mandatory drug testing. Those people would be kicked out quickly.

LydiaGreen · Dec 3, 2003

Do some research on street drugs. Marijuana makes you stupid. Plain and simple. (THC coats the neurons in the brain making it more difficult for them to function). Regular use is classified as one joint a week... this is enough to cause the effects to last for TWO YEARS even after quitting cold turkey! So, marijuana makes you stupid... nursing school is difficult... the boards (RN exam) will be excruciating even with a clear head and all neurons firing just fine. Wouldn't want to be them. More importantly, I wouldn't want to be one of their patients, and I sure wouldn't want them anywhere near my family members.

I have a BIG problem with people in the healthcare profession who KNOW that drugs affect judgment and still use them. Even if you didn't use them within 24 hours before your shift... you are still effected, even by marijuana. People have tested positive more than 2 weeks after the fact. That was urine testing. If your body is still trying to get rid of it... it is still effecting you.

I suspect and have been told by more than a few people that some of my fellow students use marijuana and in some cases, harder stuff than that. I do have a problem with that. I have tried to quietly warn the ones who do that our school can demand a urine sample at any time and that they have to provide it. Our's isn't exactly a large population... what you do outside of nursing school is known to virtually everyone... but they don't listen. Do I hope they get caught? If it prevents someone from being hurt by them, you bet! It's hard enough to make sure you are giving your clients optimal care without impaired thought processes.

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Dec 3, 2003

None that i know of, they just don't talk about it if they do.

Heck as STUDENTS though, aren't they broke? Therefore no money to buy the crap?

allnurses Guide · Dec 3, 2003

You would ask a question like this the day after I took care of a 12 year old boy whose drug-addled parents kept trying to find an excuse to leave so they could go do "recreational drugs". The father finally did leave for awhile. The boy and his 4 year old sister started crying when the mom tried to leave and finally when I came in the room she must have felt chagrined enough to stay . . .pacing and saying mean things to the 4 year old the whole time:( They have 7 children!).

People who use "recreational drugs" are selfish, in my humble opinion but then I'll freely admit to being prejudiced.

steph

chris_at_lucas_RN, RN · Dec 3, 2003

We had a couple of people in my class who drink pretty heavily, and at least one that I know of who uses MJ and pills.

Did they get "caught?" No. And you could smell one of them (EtOH) when she would come back from break or lunch. The druggie would be late to class chronically, and had huge circles under her eyes, variable hygiene, all the classic symptoms except the bad teeth.

We had annual drug testing with plenty of advance notice. The director even said, OK, now's the time to stop so your drug test will be clean, wink-wink! Supposedly you could be drug tested on a moment's notice "with cause," but I guess smelling it, seeing all the signs, etc. wasn't "cause."

I think if we are going to take care of people and have control of and access to their medication, we ought to be willing to be tested.

I am willing, but of course, I don't use and don't drink.

Easy for me to say....

donnapalmer · Dec 3, 2003

I would have to conclude that your classmates don't take themselves or the nursing profession seriously enough, and they should withdraw if they cannot refrain from using drugs/drinking. Much about this profession requires complete clearheadedness and fast reflexes and unclouded judgement, and the routine or regular use of these substances simply runs counter to those needs.

Need I mention that a hangover, from whatever it is that impaired one to begin with, makes one impatient and testy? Not nice qualities to have in a nurse...

colleenee2 · Dec 3, 2003

I DONT THINK THAT BECAUSE ONE DRINKS, THEY SHOULD WITHDRAW THEMSELVES FROM NURSING. I DRINK ON THE WEEKENDS WITH FRIENDS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT I TAKE SCHOOL VERY SERIOUSLY. DRUGS ARE A WHOLE NEW BALLGAME THOUGH. I WENT THROUGH IT IN HIGH SCHOOL, AND LEARNED A GOOD LESSON, BUT IF EVERYONE HAD TOLD ME TO QUIT SCHOOL BECAUSE I DID DRUGS AND DIDN'T TAKE MYSELF SERIOUSLY, I WOULDN'T BE HERE TODAY! IF YOU CAN KEEP YOUR RECREATION AND SCHOOL/CAREER SEPRATE, THAN DO WHAT YOU WANT. I DON'T REALLY THINK IT IS ANYONES PLACE TO JUDGE WHAT THEY DO OR DON'T DO.

donnapalmer · Dec 3, 2003

Far be it from me to judge anyone, although I must say...the more one learns about what recreational drugs, and excessive drinking do to the body, and in light of the fact that a nurse is obligated by her very role to advocate a healthy holistic lifestyle, drugs and ROUTINE drinking do not fit into a nurse's life. As for keeping parts of one's life separate...our instructor is teaching us that a nurse is not *what* one does, but *who* one is.

Isn't it also a fact that the drugs that were ingested on a Saturday night, will have a residual effect on a Monday morning, well after your recreational fun is over with?

In the pursuit of a serious occupation, the poor performance of which can easily alter a life, there are "sacrifices" that must be made.

The orthopedist who treated me for a fractured cervical vertebra when I was 17 was recently arrested for copping a couple of packages of heroin in a local parking lot...was he on duty? No. Is he a responsible practitioner? What do you think? I would possibly return to him as a patient, but only if I saw recent drug test results!

purplemania, BSN, RN · Dec 3, 2003

You are referring to people in school. They are making it more difficult to pass an already difficult test-NCLEX. Assuming they do pass, one positive drug screen (mandatory for most healthcare providers) and they could lose their license. One needlestick or medication error or other variance regarding patient safety-mandatory drug screen which can result in loss of license. I have no sympathy for druggies who work as nurses as I would not want that person to be my nurse. Coping with chemicals is not coping. It is a cop-out. Hope they get caught before someone else is harmed by their irresponsibility.

Sarah Kat · Dec 3, 2003

I used to use marijuana quite a bit, it's one of the reasons my initial college career was a bust. I cleaned up a few years ago, and I quit smoking cigarettes about 6 months ago. I do drink occasionally (and I mean less than once a month). Although I see nothing wrong with people in certain professions (like comedians or song writers) partaking in drugs, no one in the health community has any business doing them (neither do truck drivers or pilots or anyone else who takes responsibility for others health or safety). Students should be held to the same standards. If a student is using, that is a habit, and it is one that will be hard to break once you enter the workforce. It's a shame that people use drugs at all. Being a former user, I do understand why though.