Should a nursing student be given a 2nd chance if they have a positive drug screen

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If a nursing student is caught with a positive drug screen do you think they should be given a second chance? should she be kicked out of school? Ok so here is the story, my classmate has got be the dumbest person ever? She went to a physical exam for a job and she was reeking of alcohol. She said they did a breath test on her and it came up positive. Now this is where the story is really interesting, they also did a drug screen on her and she is worried that it will come back positive for marijuana and if it does, the place of employement will notify the school and their is a possibly that she will be kicked out of the nursing program. She claimed that she doesn't smoke weed all the time, however, if you are a once and a blue-moon smoker I think it can take upto 6 months to get out of your system providing that you don't smoke again for awhile. I know, at my place of employement, we do have nurses who have been caught in the past for drugs or pills and they have to go through rehab program and then, they have to call a number every morning and they may have to report for a drug screen. It does vary, they could report everyday or once a month. So my question is should nursing students be given the same chance as a RN who was caught doing drugs?

Specializes in Ante-Intra-Postpartum, Post Gyne.

I know students that smoke weed, none that do it before or even around clinical days, and since it stays in your system for awhile it is hard to say when the person does it. Heck harder stuff leaves your system faster...but the fact that your friend was under the influence (EOTH) during her physical shows poor poor poor judgment...I would not want her to me MY nurse! Even if they gave her a second chance, the BRN night not...and they have the final say....

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Specializes in ER/Ortho.

Thats crazy. Who in their right mind would go to a Dr's appointment drunk. I go out every few weekends, and drink with friends, and occassionally have wine with dinner. I have never felt I couldn't wait and had to drink during the day while doing my business, appointments etc. And I have heard it can take a couple of months for pot to clear a system. She should have known better, and she deserves what she gets.

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In this day and age of drug and alchohol screening, I just can't wrap my mind around showing up to a physical reeking of alcohol? I ditto whomever suggested rehab. If you can't stop drinking long enough not to fail a breathlizer in order to get a physical for a job, there is a bigger issue here.

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Specializes in heart failure and prison.

Thank you for your responses. I thought that I was wrong to think that my classmate should be kicked out of the nursing program. I know that I wouldn't want her to take care of me or my family. Also, some students think they can drink something to flush their, but little do they know, that test will come back dilute and the employer has the right to resquest that you come in before the close of the business day to take another drug screen and if you don't show up they can recind the job offer. I really don't feel sorry for her because she should have known better than to show up reeking and smelling like she just got finish sipping kat nip. Oh and I forgot to mention that she had less than 1 year before graduation and she was going to be a student nurse extern. Can you imagine your nurse at the bedside smelling 90 proof:smokin::bugeyes::smokin::bugeyes:

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Specializes in ER, TRAUMA, MED-SURG.
Simply no! Its all about integrity.

I gotta agree with you, and all the other posters I have read so far. These days, there are a number of qualified applicants that are just as deserving of a spot as she is, and even when I started school in 1990, we all knew full well going in that drug screens are required, as well as after finishing school and starting to job hunting.

I have seen students come to class or clinicals under the influences, and most of them gave themselves away pretty fast.

I have worked with nurses who have had a positive drug screen for one thing or another, whether is is pot or pain pills, ect. Who admitted their problem and did their time in rehab, and got straight and STAYED that way. There are some of those nurses who for one reason or another won't get straight or stay straight.

I am in the group of believers that agree that the people that admit their problem and go to rehab, work their program and do every day what they are supposed to do to keep their license and their integrity.

I am one of those nurses that had a positive drug screen and entered our state's program and completed it. During that time, I had to prove over and over that I was deserving of a second chance. In August of this year, I will celebrate my 10th year of being clean and sober and keep in mind every day how much work you put into something like that and not too just throw it away.

Anne, RNC

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Specializes in ER, TRAUMA, MED-SURG.
In this situation as described, no. No second chances.

I agree with you, SirI - sounds like she was given ample opportinity and just didn't take advangage of it.

Anne, RNC

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Specializes in Telemetry.

I agree with everyone. I'd be scared as a patient to have a nurse like her. Plus, there are other careers out there that would find that kind of behavior tolerable but Nursing is definitely not one of them. Patients' lives are at stake here!

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Specializes in ER, TRAUMA, MED-SURG.
Thats crazy. Who in their right mind would go to a Dr's appointment drunk. I go out every few weekends, and drink with friends, and occassionally have wine with dinner. I have never felt I couldn't wait and had to drink during the day while doing my business, appointments etc. And I have heard it can take a couple of months for pot to clear a system. She should have known better, and she deserves what she gets.

That's what I was thinking!! To go to an appointment drunk?!? Heck, no!

Anne, RNC

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Specializes in NICU, Post-partum.

If that "once in a blue moon" smoker can't put the pot pipe down in order to maintain a drug free lifestyle in order to keep a professional license, then that person needs to be in rehab because that is one of the signs of at minimum, pscyhological addiction.

It wasn't just the MJ, she showed up reeking of alcohol.

Yes, she should be kicked out.

Yes, she should be given another chance...after completing rehab and going a couple of years drug free.

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I am really happy to read all of these responses. Especially after that other thread about turning in a fellow student whom one knew was smoking pot. Obviously that other thread was questionable since we never knew whether or not the OP knew for a fact whether or not this person was smoking pot. But it's refreshing to know I am not the only person who thinks students don't deserve second chances.

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Sorry but I wouldnt want a drunk high nurse taking care of me. even if it was once in a while :eek: I am working to hard to get my RN. People who are busy getting drunk and high have no business working in health care period.

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I, too, agree with the responses here.

NS spots are hard to come by. Competition is fierce. Waiting lists are long.

I say she should get kicked out and NOT have the opportunity to come back. The ppl who say after rehab give her the chance then etc. are nicer than me. Give her spot to a student who wants to be there and not take that opportunity for granted.

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