I don't smoke marijuana but I know tons of folks who do smoke marijuana from all walks of life and socioeconomic classifications. I won't do the weed bashing on this blog or weed promotion for that matter but just a little common sense please with the weed.
1. If you are on probation or monitoring with the State Nursing Board or a Board related alternative program and required to submit random UDS (urine drug screens), put the weed down please. You are going to test positive and this will be a violation of something in your 5-10 page contract, agreement, or order.
2. If you work at a healthcare facility which utilizes random drug screens for all employees, put the weed down please. Today may be your day and some of us are testing positive after partying hard from New Year's Eve; and
3. If you are a nurse and something happens at work you can be asked to give a UDS on the spot. What happens if you puff, puff, and pass the marijuana on your days off? Oh no. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friday_(film)
Say there are controlled substance discrepancies or you are a little sluggish at work after staying up all night studying for an exam in your NP program. A reasonable suspicion UDS can be ordered. You are going to test positive for marijuana which is reportable to the State Nursing Board. Put the weed down please. If you test positive its reported to the State Nursing Board. If you decline, you are fired and you are reported to the State Nursing Board:)
Seriously anytime you are using an illegal substance, you are risking your employment, your nursing, and possibly your career. Its a risk and it may be slight or significant depending on your employment setting but its a risk nonetheless. Are you willing to assume this risk and the consequences?
Most healthcare organizations have a no tolereance policy for drug use.
No that doesn't mean your license will be revoked by the State Nursing Board but there can be consequences for nurses with a positive UDS from smoking marijuana just like there are consequences for nurses with a positive UDS from smoking crack, snorting cocaine, and mainlining heroin.
In closing if you want to use illegal drugs on the regular, i.e. a consistent basis:
1. You shouldn't be in healthcare (remember patient safety);
2. You need to find an occupation, trade, or profession which doesn't require a state issued license by a regulatory board; and
3. You need to work in a setting where there is no accountability or responsibility for one's actions, inaction, or conduct.
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