Weed and work.

ixchel · Nov 23, 2015

I will give you one - me. I work in OB. My patient had a precipitous delivery, delivering before the doctor arrived. This required an incident report. Because I was involved in an incident I was required to take a urine drug screen. Just goes to show how easily this can happen.

Oh, what the eff. Doctor can't bill for delivering a baby that came too quickly so now a nurse has to not only pee in a cup, but fill out the incident report. I wonder if the doctor, who didn't show up on time, had to pee in a cup or file any reports. Good grief. Sometimes the baby just comes too fast. (Ha! Or the doctor really is too slow.)

klone, MSN, RN · Nov 23, 2015

Not sure, but best guess is Medical Marijuana.

THat's what I thought originally, but he said "recreational MMJ" and "Medical MMJ"

Neural · Nov 23, 2015

For what it's worth, if I were a hospitalized patient, I wouldn't want a "heavy cannibis user" taking care of me.

I've known quite a few smokers over the years, and the recreational/occasional users are just normal folks with no limitations whatsoever; however, the "heavy" users (10-20x/week) appeared to be fatigued-looking burnouts with severely limited short-term memories.

Not on to mention the popularity of "Waking and Baking"...

AshBuggin · Nov 24, 2015

I will give you one - me. I work in OB. My patient had a precipitous delivery, delivering before the doctor arrived. This required an incident report. Because I was involved in an incident I was required to take a urine drug screen. Just goes to show how easily this can happen.

I didn't say testing doesn't occur. Let me clarify. I have known plenty of nurses that were tested bc of probable cause (I.e an incident report). It just isn't smart to take the chance in my opinion. You never know what kind of situation you'll be in. Healthcare is unpredictable.

Hep-Lock, ASN, RN · Nov 24, 2015

I work for a relatively small facility that incorporates computerized random drug testing on a programed percentage of nurses in each unit every month, often several times monthly, and the testing is spread out inconsistently during the month so that no one can predict when it's coming. Thus, the fact that one was already been tested during a given month does not mean that s/he won't be tested again during that same month. If the controlled substance count is off, everyone that worked in that unit during that shift and had access to the Pyxis is tested. If there is an on-the-job injury or a patient incident of any kind, the nurse involved is tested. If a nurse behaves in any manner that "sends up a flag" (obvious drowsiness on the job, habitual or frequent absences, etc.), s/he is probably going to be drug screened. And yes, employees in other departments are randomly tested as well.

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · Nov 24, 2015

For what it's worth, if I were a hospitalized patient, I wouldn't want a "heavy cannibis user" taking care of me.
I've known quite a few smokers over the years, and the recreational/occasional users are just normal folks with no limitations whatsoever; however, the "heavy" users (10-20x/week) appeared to be fatigued-looking burnouts with severely limited short-term memories.
Not on to mention the popularity of "Waking and Baking"...

Spot on.Recreational use is one thing... waking and baking is another.

Judgement would be impaired with heavy usage. This is why there is zero tolerance.

toomuchbaloney · Nov 24, 2015

I will give you one - me. I work in OB. My patient had a precipitous delivery, delivering before the doctor arrived. This required an incident report. Because I was involved in an incident I was required to take a urine drug screen. Just goes to show how easily this can happen.

My best friend was a labor and delivery nurse for 5 years. She frequently delivered babies because the MD was slow getting out of the locker room. Why that nurse, who saves the day for the hospital, doctor, and unit is required to complete paperwork and submit to a drug test is beyond me. Seems like maybe the nurses ought to refuse to deliver the babies if they are going to be punished for it.

Horseshoe, BSN, RN · Nov 25, 2015

My best friend was a labor and delivery nurse for 5 years. She frequently delivered babies because the MD was slow getting out of the locker room. Why that nurse, who saves the day for the hospital, doctor, and unit is required to complete paperwork and submit to a drug test is beyond me.

I agree. Did the doc have to give a specimen to explain his absence?

Farawyn · Nov 25, 2015

I agree. Did the doc have to give a specimen to explain his absence?

Mhm. For the win.

AggieNurse99, BSN, RN · Nov 25, 2015

So I worked as a bus driver while in college. We had true random drug testing. Once a month, a computer program would spit out 50 or so names from 500 employees and we'd have to go pee in a cup. CDL requirements of my state. Bathroom door open, no flushing, no hand washing. Very very strict.

Not been my experience in nursing. Pre employment screening. Health insurance annual nicotine test. For-cause -- suspected impairment & on the job injury testing.

JohnHood, BSN · Nov 25, 2015

Your friend has a problem. There is very little chance that he will not get caught. Marijuana stays in your system for weeks. Someone who is stoned will be recognized. His coworkers will very likely not stand for that and they will report him or his supervisor will catch him. If he is caught using while caring for patients the board will pull his license until he goes through rehab. If he refuses a drug screen at work he will be reported to his state board which will order him to have a drug screen and explain his actions.

CassiLoutzenhiser · Nov 25, 2015

Drug tested prior to hire. Drug tested EVERY time narc count is off because of nurse error or charting error, which I can tell you happens a lot. Random drug testing happens a lot. Also drug tested anytime there is an incident or injury. So lots of drug testing.