URGENT question about pot smoking please read!

Nurses General Nursing

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Hey everyone

I am starting nursing school in two weeks, and I was wondering if they do drug tests before or during the courses.

On occasion, some of my friends and I may smoke up for a bit. harmless, we BARELY do it, maybe a few times a year. BUT, I'm worried that perhaps I'll get screened and be denied into the program or something....

I don't have a criminal record, or anything like that. I'm just wondering if smoking pot could get you a denial into the course.

When you are taking care of human lives, how is drug and alchohol use nobody's business? I don't think pot is any worse than alchohol either, however the law is the law and she wants to pass her drug test and get into school, I suggest she not smoke pot. Not for nothing...if my nurse smoked a bone before coming to work....I wouldn't want her taking care of me!!!

Friends Don't Let Friends Nurse Stoned.(Or drunk):cool: :cool:

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Lets see, it would be better to have a surgeon who smoked pot before CUTTING ME OPEN then a surgeon with a hangover? These are my options???? How about a surgeon who is SOBER????!!!

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Specializes in Trauma,ER,CCU/OHU/Nsg Ed/Nsg Research.

I personally don't think smoking pot every now and then is any worse than having a drink occasionally, although I am not a pot smoker. But I have to disagree somewhat that there are no lasting side effects of pot smoking. I can see a pot-head coming a mile away!

I would also like to add that use of any substance that negatively affects your life (i.e. getting kicked out of school, losing your job, etc.)and you continue to take it, could mean that there could potentially be a substance abuse problem. It doesn't matter how often you imbibe so much as the consequences of your doing it. Quality over quantity, so to speak. Some people can handle smoking/drinking, etc. and have no problem navigating their life decisions, but there are also those who can't.

To the OP: if you have to ask others for advice on how to work around this pot thing, then maybe you shouldn't even consider doing it at all. I don't say this to make judgment on you, or because I don't think you would make a good nurse. I say this because it might be a red flag for you if you can't readily tell yourself not to do it because it has potential to ruin your career plans. It's not so much a moral decision as a common sense approach to what you want out of your life, and what you will have to do to get it. And if not smoking pot a few times a year will help you to get what you want out of life, then what's the big deal with not doing it?

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Leaving morality out of the question, I think if you really consider it, you already answered your own original question here.

Don't do it. It is obviously the wrong decision in your case.

I won't get into how I feel about pot and legality------I just think if doing such things causes one so much trepidation and worry, it ought not be done.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.

My nursing school did not drug test.

Most employers do.

Here in Florida regardless of how we personally feel about it, it is against the Nurse Practice Act. If an employer finds mj in your system during a drug test, they are required by the NPA to report it. You are then put into the Intervention Project For Nurses and required to undergo counseling, etc. and your license is on the line.

Check your nurse practice act or the Canadian equivalent. If it's against the nurse practice act, regardless of how you feel about it, you stop. If you can't stop you have a problem and have no business being a nurse.

For me, I want to be a nurse so I follow the guidelines of the NPA, even if I disagree, it's the law.

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Specializes in Step down, ICU, ER, PACU, Amb. Surg.
Originally posted by DMR1

well thanks for posting your opinions on this matter, but it still doesnt' answer my question.

Do any schools test for this? I've never heard of schools doing this.

and also, I live in Canada, and pot will be decriminalized soon, which means you will only recieve a small fine. it won't be a criminal offense.

Look at it this way...would you want a nurse that had smoked pot taking care of one of your loved ones or your self??? Would you want someone who has impaired judgement making critical decisions about your care and life??? I think not. I know I wouldn't.

I am not pointing a finger or beating on anyone that uses however in the states it is illegal and although it may be decriminalized in Canada, it will still mark your career and reputation. Health care holds high standards on their people. I recommend that you immediately consider detoxing your self and abstain from it if you are serious about pursuing a career in nursing.

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Specializes in Step down, ICU, ER, PACU, Amb. Surg.

as far as I know the schools here in the states do not take drug tests for preadmission purposes but I am 110% with Tweety. Bro, you put it so eloquently.

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My school does drug testing before you are accepted AND at anytime during the nursing school process. I take a hard line when it comes to drugs and drug abuse and I happen to think that you and your friends and anyone else who smokes or smokes pot are idiots. I think anyone who "uses" is a weak minded follower who needs a crutch (drugs) to get through life. Not to mention, smokers just plain smell bad, and have the yellow/brown teeth, the yellow fingernails, the smokers breath, the smokers cough, the smokers voice.....real attractive......real attractive. The known inherient health risks to themselves and others just says that you are a bad decision maker because you decided to smoke and use drugs such as pot or nicotine. Smoking and pot smoking are extremely selfish acts as it benefits no one except the user. It is simply the user trying to satisfy an addiction or just conforming to peer pressure (being weak minded). Just go ahead and wear that "stupid" sign around to make sure sensible, law abiding people can avoid you. Ok..I had better stop, I could go on for hours about this stuff and I have probably stirred up a hornets nest.

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Originally posted by UntamedSpirit

Look at it this way...would you want a nurse that had smoked pot taking care of one of your loved ones or your self??? Would you want someone who has impaired judgement making critical decisions about your care and life??? I think not. I know I wouldn't.

That statement doesn't make any sense. People who drank before have also had impaired judgement. So...you've had a hangover, you shouldn't be treating patients. Is that what you're saying? HA!

You guys are jumpin the gun here. The issue is not smoking pot on a daily basis, weekly, or even monthly. I'm talking about a few times a year. A birthday, or a summer vacation with some friends. That does NOT impaire my judgement of treating patients, the same way as having an occasional drink does not impaire your judgement MONTHS down the road.

But anyway, I've already said I won't do it anymore. That's right. Come next birthday, i won't. big deal. Not a hard thing for me to do. Having it once or twice a year is NOT being addicted to it. Anyone who says you are is full of bull. i will not do it again, because it IS against the law, and being a health care provider who deals with drugs on a daily basis, I see the importance of having a 'clean' health care provider.

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Originally posted by DMR1

But anyway, I've already said I won't do it anymore. That's right. Come next birthday, i won't. big deal. Not a hard thing for me to do. Having it once or twice a year is NOT being addicted to it. Anyone who says you are is full of bull. i will not do it again, because it IS against the law, and being a health care provider who deals with drugs on a daily basis, I see the importance of having a 'clean' health care provider.

I can respect that!

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Specializes in Obstetrics, M/S, Psych.

Really interesting thread. There are so many varying opinions about marijuana. Lots of misconception and exaggeration about it seems the theme with stereotyping abounding. But, that is a whole different thread.

I do agree that DMR1 should be clean if she feels that being otherwise may be a problem because she may be found out through the drug testing. The laws may not be good ones, but they are the law right now.

Oh, and Russell, as usual, shooting straight from the hip. I like that.;)

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
Originally posted by DMR1

That statement doesn't make any sense. People who drank before have also had impaired judgement. So...you've had a hangover, you shouldn't be treating patients. Is that what you're saying? HA!

The common sense approach would be to NOT get to the point of being hungover before the night (day, etc.) you are to be at work.

My approach is that if i have 3 days off and my last work day is friday, i go out saturday. Then upon my return to work, i am not having regrets on that extra whatever i decided to ingest.

And i must say this. Every single person i have ever known (this does not mean all in the world are like this) that has smoked green, their only contribution to any conversation i have had with them consisted of the next "bag" they were going to score, the great "toker" they had a couple days ago, etc. That to me screams addiction.

Not to mention a constant turnover of friends, considering that i think i offer more to the art of conversation than the best "smoke" i ever had. (never have smoked though)

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