Weed and work.

klone, MSN, RN · Nov 16, 2015

Sorry to offend, and I'll extend that to any CU Boulder grads as well.

No need. You were spot on with that one.

Mavrick, BSN, RN · Nov 16, 2015

Number 2: Did I ever imply in that one question that it was being used in hospitals and other professional settings??

Well, actually you kinda did. By negated the poster who was negating the line "everyone smoked pot" you implied that you were supporting that sentiment.

Simple levity here. [ Let's see how this looks in print.]

toomuchbaloney · Nov 17, 2015

I tried to relay this message to him NUMEROUS times. But I think he is officially addicted. He has personality changes after a few days without smoking. He gets angrier easily, cant concentrate, is like a ticking time bomb. I hate it for him, but it's kinda one of those "none of my business" situations..

My guess is that he is treating an underlying anxiety or depression with his cannabis use which is why you notice the symptoms of anxiety or depression. Perhaps he would benefit from a more acceptable pharmaceutical which would allow him to gain employment?

Really though, it is none of your business. Would you be concerned if he had a beer everyday after clinicals or work?

In terms of random drug testing, the only folks that I am aware of who have been "randomly" tested either had done something which raised suspicion, had been involved in some sort of accident while on the job, or work for the federal government (like in a military hospital).

The safest route is to avoid use of any substances which are commonly tested if you want to have a clear license and a stress free workplace.

Farawyn · Nov 17, 2015

TMB: The whole time I was reading this I was thinking your 2nd paragraph.

Better you say it than me! :bag:

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · Nov 17, 2015

A classmate of mine is a heavy cannabis user. To the point where he has not even applied for any positions yet because he is certain that his pre-screening drug test will come back positive. He says that he just has to stay clean long enough to pass the drug screening because "hospitals hardly ever drug tests to nurses."
How true is this? How often are nurses screened at YOUR facility? I was going to ask my preceptor, but I think me asking will look weird..

Facilities test whenever they feel the need. Compliance to testing is mandatory.

He may go days.. or years.. or never be tested.

He is rolling his own dice.

seaofclouds21, BSN, RN · Nov 17, 2015

I think everyone else covered all the potential times one could be drug tested by an employer. My previous hospital had random testing every quarter. In the 4 years I worked for them, my name came up once (technically it was my employee number that came up). Beyond the random testing, they testing on hire, with any suspicion, and any time you filled out an employee injury report (wanted to be sure you weren't under the influence cause if you were, they could get out of paying work comp).

Guest219794 · Nov 17, 2015

From your description of your classmate, it's likely he will get screened twice. Once when he gets hired, once when he gets fired.

Having problems when you stop using a mind altering substance does not bode well in this field. Irrelevant whether it is legal, illegal, or kinda legal.

He should be able to cheat his way through the first test, assuming he can stay straight long enough, then do whatever cleansing gets done. And, he could go a lifetime without being tested. Or, he could structure his life around working as a nurse and lose it in a flash. Given that he has an unhealthy relationship with psychoactive drugs, and part of his job will be to responsibly handle psychoactive drugs, he has some challenges ahead.

Angelicpurl · Nov 18, 2015

Before hire, if sentinel event everyone working gets tested who MIGHT be called in about it, after injuries (even if isn't your fault, like someone hit you)....narcotic count off (entire unit, both shift before & yours).

Monthly they letters from hat. So if your last name starts with that letter, you get tested. This means that you could be unfortunate and have several drug test performed in one month!

CoraNary · Nov 20, 2015

I worked at the same nursing facility for 11 years, never once was I drug tested, not even upon hire...I've never been drug tested anywhere else either... but as a staff supervisor for home health caregivers, I feel like any time someone begins to display erratic behaviors, not showing up for work etc, I may pull a random drug screen

Doumbia · Nov 21, 2015

Pre-employment testing seems common (hospitals) but not necessarily otherwise. It's interesting that the overwhelming tone is that folks think a person who uses mmj is a crazed impaired drug addict. What about the person who has a beer after work, either occasionally or every day? Are they impaired? What's important is that the person not be impaired ON THE JOB, not what they do on their free time.

I live in one of the states that has legalized both medical and recreational mmj. However mmj is still illegal federally, so employers still do test for it and people can lose their jobs. It does sound like the author's friend was self-medicating for anxiety or other mood issues perhaps. At some point, these states that have legalized it will have to deal with this issue... so far they are just choosing to go with federal law and ignore state law.

Horseshoe, BSN, RN · Nov 21, 2015

What's important is that the person not be impaired ON THE JOB, not what they do on their free time.

Actually, in practice that's not true, as you went on to illustrate in your post. What's important from a nursing perspective is what the employer allows. One can be fired if he tests positive for THC. There is no room in that whatsoever to prove lack of impairment. Fair or not, it is what it is, and if one cares about keeping the nursing license, this is the fact of working life, not whether or not one is impaired.

klone, MSN, RN · Nov 21, 2015

medical and recreational mmj.

What does MMJ stand for?