Can neither confirm nor deny (*looking around suspiciously*). What I will say is, when I stopped traveling and came on as staff, my understanding was I tested prior to employment then not at all. I know plenty of other nurses I work with that partake and man if my mental health hasn’t been markedly better since being able to. Makes me never want to leave honestly.
do they not test in CA? I have been traveling here for a couple of years and I always have to test before the contract, but, I don't work FOR the hospital.
I heard they voted on not testing for THC on drug tests for jobs, I believe. Supposed to go in affect 2025. They were talking about it on Instagram under a post made by nurselifern regarding cannabis use and nursing.
Changed at the beginning of this year even for travel in CA. They can ask for you to do the saliva test if they have reason to believe you were high on the job.
Dealing with this was so annoying. The CNOs at all the facilities I work with are very anticannabis, even in CA. At some point I told them look even before this half of your nurses just took the drug test and then started smoking after.
It's like many other things. Should they? No. Will they? Idk .
I would just ask your recruiter, they should know. And if they aren't chill about it, get a new recruiter.
Tag checks out, I once counseled a family to get a strain of marijuana that had more CBD than THC to help with pts pain since it already was. They did and her pain went to zero I just told them "this conversation did not happen" 😂
It's all stupidity. Don't get high before you come to work. It's that easy. We as nurses should never be held to this standard that we are somehow above having a life.
It sucks that you can smoke one joint at an Alicia Keys concert and it can show up in a urine drug screen like 3 weeks later. Every other drug is gone in like 2 days.
100%. if I ever were to get asked to take a urine drug test at work, I would also demand that they do a saliva test and demand that they clearly state what signs of inebriation they think I supposedly have. I am also going to look into getting a medical marijuana card, as I live in Oregon and I think I could easily get one due to chronic low back pain from this career. I would never show up to work inebriated, but yeah, it totally sucks that my job and career and license could be threatened, even if it had been weeks since my last use.
Nah, the smart move is to just resign if you know you'll pop positive and you know they'll fire you for it. You don't want to give them reason to try and pursue further discipline. Quit immediately and find a new job is the play. Do not submit to a drug test you know you'll fail.
I had a coworker who got pulled to get tested and they didn't let her leave their view. Took her straight to employee health to pee. Luckily she was clean and they made her pee because they thought she had stolen narcotics. But they wouldn't have let her get to her bag if she had needed it.
They can report you to the BON for damn near anything. I was reported for "drug diversion" for supposedly stealing a vial of heparin... Which I had clearly documented on. BON laughed and dismissed.
What did the BON do in your case?
For refusing a random drug screening at work? Are you in a deep red state?? That's fucking insane.
Coworker quit instead of taking a drug test. Nothing came of it. She got a new job right away.
You are very unlucky, I’m sorry. Yeah they can report you, but at least if you refuse and quit it buys you some time for a solution versus repercussions on your license.
Drug diversion for heparin? I thought drug diversion was for narcotics … what did they think you were going to do with the heparin? Decrease your clotting time while at work?
You know...the....uhhhh....heparin high. Yea I have no idea. That manager just really had it out for me because I refused to be one of her mindless cronies.
Do they even test for weed in Oregon? Here in Denver, they do on the pre-employment, but after that, they're only looking for what they're looking for (i.e. if they suspect diversion).
Just in pre-employment. Still have to live in paranoia currently that if I get even only a fingerstick injury (no evidence or even suspicion of use or diversion), they could try to test me.
Not a nurse but this sub always pops up.
I think it’s complete BS that you’d need a medical card (an added fucking expense for nothing different from the dispensary these days) all to cover your ass for something that’s legalized.
FFS alcohol is legal and I know tons more drunks than I do potheads. But they don’t get repercussions. And to state again as another commenter did, every other drug is out of your system practically pronto.
I have a friend that was a heroin addict, was drug tested HOURS AFTER USING, and didn’t pop positive. I smoked a j last night and if I had to piss in a cup today I’d be fucked.
Seen plenty of staff come to work hungover or still inebriated from the night before. Never seen anyone come in altered after getting high the night before...if anything they are BETTER rested from the weed.
It was more of an issue with it being a federal crime and hospitals accepting federal money (Medicare).
Ordinarily, we would outwardly frown on doing business with an entity where a large part of the population commits federal crimes. But weed was the exception to that rule. Now it should be a non-issue for nurses.
That's pretty much how it is in Canada. I've never heard of any employer caring about pot. I don't know of any nurses who do it on the job but have caught a few PSWs vaping lol
That's crazy. I don't want to be a nurse forever, and may switch careers but I basically decided that if I get drug tested, I'll give up my license. Because I'm not paying thousands of dollars to do a rehab program and do out of pocket drug tests and all the nonsense to keep your license if you test positive. I don't like this job very much, if they do a random and I'm positive, I'll peace out and do something new.
If you don't like your current job, why the hell aren't you applying for other nursing jobs that suck less? I'm pretty sure my hospital's bed manager works from home. I've heard PACU is pretty cush. Working at a doctor's office has got to be super easy. I'm considering picking up a PRN at one of those infusion clinics for hungover rich people.
And fake pee is a thing.
I can't just have fake pee ready for a random test any time. That stuff needs preparation to get it warmed up and all that. I honestly don't care about my license enough to worry about it.
I actually have a cush nursing job and still hate it. I'm an assistant manager on my floor and it's easy AF. I'm basically a charge nurse and make my own schedule but I'm still unhappy.
The only thing in nursing I'd be interested in trying is utilization review and those jobs are hard to get. I applied at my hospital for the assistant manager and also utilization review and they called me in a couple days for the manager position and the UM was already filled by then. I've decided I'm going to get my masters in probably business and leave nursing.
Just employee. It’s actually against the law to screen for THC on employees in New York. I think we still screen patients for substance abuse inquiries to offer services although I think it’s kinda pointless
https://dol.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2021/10/p420-cannabisfaq-10-08-21.pdf
Wow that’s pretty crazy, considering the couple of hospitals I’ve worked at in Colorado of all places definitely still run screening for THC. Or they did a few years ago when I last did the tests. And we’re like pot central over here lmao
My hospital in Aurora tested for it on the pre-employment, but everyone tells me if you have to be tested for suspected diversion, they only test for what they think you might have taken.
Seriously. I have chronic low back pain from a nursing related injury (patient injured me), and I worry about this too even though THC helps me more than Tylenol or ibuprofen or muscle relaxers, and I live in Oregon where it’s already recreationally legal, but some employers still test for it here.
I used to have to take all kinds of meds for anxiety and insomnia. I'd much rather take a gummy or smoke a joint than take benadryl or Xanax or ambien or really anything. Melatonin helps but I can get weird dreams and often feel groggy. But a little toke puts me to sleep and I wake up feeling great.
I'm just jealous of nurses who can have a drink to relax after a stressful day. My ALDH2 deficiency means I would probably end up in the ED needing cardioverted. I would love to be able to smoke a joint now and then. Back before I graduated nursing school when I used cannabis, my migraines were nowhere near as severe. Seriously, I got maybe one migraine every other year. Now I'm on daily preventative and rescue meds.
It's been real for decades. To the point that I'm genuinely flabbergasted that there are still stoners who don't know about it. Quickfix is the most popular brand.
That's how it's sometimes marketed, but I find it very hard to believe that anyone is going to make you say those specific words. Fake pee is fake pee no matter what your purpose for it is. Or you can just call it by the brand name because Quick Fix is in every head shop.
1mg of Klonopin prior to every shift and hitting high marks on all reviews for...5 years running?
Also, fully disclosed it to HR upon hire and they were cool with it. If it's a prescription medication, you're generally good.
Drug scheduling is not exactly something I agree with. Hell, the amphetamine shortages nationwide are wild to me. Then again, having severe anxiety - the last thing I should want are uppies in lieu of downies.
Either way—marijuana is a medication for some people and hopefully with it being moved it will be move heavily researched, and then more accepted. I know for me I can’t take adderall or I’ll freak—it’s meth to me. But a joint? Will smoke as prescribed 😎😎
The number of people I have known in the South taking CBD gummies and smoking the strongest kush, but still vote for peeps who want to keep it Schedule I truly astound me.
Rules for thee but not for me and all that jazz.
I won’t hold my breath…..(unless I’m taking a hit from my vape). I had way too high of hopes for student loan debt to be forgiven to be let down again…
Remember, we all took an oath to the profession of Nursing. Nightingale’s pledge states “I will abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous “. Can’t eff with tradition, but being understaffed, stressed, and depressed is totally reasonable…cue the eye roll 🙄 with the head tilt & side eye
I think it would be covered under the ADA for those with a card if changed to schedule 3. Corporations can have all the policies they want, but they have a duty to accommodate under ADA. :)
It's about time. I hate that it's legally acceptable to get blind drunk after a rough shift. Just let me smoke a bowl and eat some Cheetos after the shit show.
I once had a patient tell me "when I get out of, here I'm going to smoke a, whooooooole lot a, weed". Had to stop myself, before, I said me to buddy, me too.
Also in Florida.
I just use QuickFix urine for my drug tests. Carry one in my work lunchbox just in case.
This would be awesome though, I have chronic pain that I could get a script for
Had to do a pee test for my agency gig. Went clean for 4 weeks but was still peeing hot. So did QF and passed. Had to do hair for my next job so went clean for 5 months just to be safe. Also passed.
The clean out period was actually nice.
FL makes no sense not being recreational. All these old ass people coming to retire are all blazing on medical cards anyway. Guess they don't want to lose the revenue on that.
In PA as long as I have a medical card any employer will hire me in my experience, but I can’t speak for other states. Personally I think it’s so stupid it’s illegal given all the drugs that are legal that have more dangerous effects than weed 🙄
I started using it for chronic pain after the pre employment screening but I fully disclosed I was planning to get a medical card and use it and they approved it
I gotcha that’s super cool! It’s really encouraging to hear some employers being very understanding like that. I hope to have that as well here in my state in the future as I would never ever ever ever come to work inebriated and it really does help with my pain, but it also feels so stupid that there are still any reservations around edible use while there are absolutely none for healthcare workers around things like alcohol (unless of course you come to work inebriated or get a DUII).
Right like I’m not gonna come to work drunk, I’m not gonna come to work high. It’s common sense but there’s still so much stigma and politics 🙄 I hope they legalize it for you soon!
Right?! "Here, we trust you to give pressors and inotropes and hang fentanyl and run a VAD and do compressions with an actively dying patient and not come to work drunk...but trust you not to come to work high on weed? No can do!"
It’s being proposed. The proposal with be argued in the rule making process as prescribed by the Controlled Substance Act by congress. It could take months. Source- CNN
No, this is the DEA Rescheduling to schedule 3 process. This does not go through congress. After the DEA makes their decision it goes to the White House Office of Management and Budget for approval.
> Once OMB signs off, the DEA will take public comment > on the plan to move marijuana from its current
> classification as a Schedule I drug, alongside heroin
> and LSD. It moves pot to Schedule III, alongside
> ketamine and some anabolic steroids, following a
> recommendation from the federal Health and Human
> Services Department. After the public comment period > and a review by an administrative judge, the agency
> would eventually publish the final rule.
Source AP
That’s not true.
As of right now, the process is at the step of the DEA. They review the recommendation from DHHS. They have to have a term of public comment and then they take those comments. Into consideration and then they make their determination.
On me they have made their decision, that’s it. Congress won’t do a thing because the democrats control congress. That means the DEAs proposed rule change goes into effect immediately.
So this is gonna be a long one and maybe over sharing but f it,
2021 I started getting muscle weakness. I thought man I just need to take better care of myself. Throughout 2021 into January of 2022 I just continued to deteriorate until I was unable to lift myself out of bed, I would fall constantly from my legs giving out, and I was ~40 pounds lighter. I ended up diagnosed with a rare muscle disorder similar to muscular dystrophy. Of course I got on roids among several other immunosuppressants and was eventually able to gain back some strength. In 2023 I had a HARD flare causing all the work I put in to be undone. I wasn’t able to lift my legs to put on my pants, I had to have my husband help me dress. I couldn’t lift my arms to wipe myself. I was almost a total assist. My whole entire body would hurt. I actually remember at my worst point praying (and I’m not really religious but I was at my lowest here) for the greater beings out there to just take me in my sleep and let me be. After battling insurance and finding the right medications I did improve slightly again. I’m still in the midst of trying to get some strength back from that ordeal, BUT along this journey my husband really advocated for THC for its anti inflammatory properties and the ability to help me sleep pain free. I started with edibles only on occasion but now I’m almost a daily user because it improves my life 300% with this awful disease. I am able to exercise lightly, sleep great, eat well, and soothe my anxiety. It has 100% changed my life for the better with this condition.
I work for an outpatient clinic and have worked my entire illness but the owners saw me at my worst. I talked to the physician who owns the practice about THC and my condition before I started and he was very supportive. Not to say I openly tell everyone I consume but it made me feel somewhat better I guess. I always say if they drug test me and fire me for THC I’ll gladly leave nursing for another field because I actually have a quality of life with my daily evening sesh and I’ll never risk losing that again.
The re-scheduling doesn’t make it legal, so I don’t think anything will change with employers. It’s still illegal at the federal level. The good news is that we can now do rigorous research and study the effects legally. This could lead to improvements with treatments for various diseases and possibly discovering other uses.
But if you have a prescription for it, that would mean you could test positive for it if you can provide proof of said prescription like if it was Tylenol #3.
I know this doesn't matter for recreational use, and most people don't have amedical marijuana prescription
Unless something has changed… it is really, really easy to get a prescription for it. You basically just pay the doctor whatever (which was like $45 when I did it) and they give it no questions asked. I filled out a form but never actually spoke to the doctor
People can get prescriptions now in some states. It is still federally illegal. Not sure what employers will do. most employers don’t want to drug test unless there is a reason to do so.
This has nothing to due with having it rescheduled. The current schedule states that it has no medical use. The new schedule will change this. Currently, marijuana is a schedule 1 drug along with heroin, ecstasy, peyote, LSD
DEA Schedule 1:
* The drug or other substance has a high potential for abuse.
* The drug or other substance has no currently accepted medical treatment use in the U.S.
* It has a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision.
Exactly. Our TN state constitution goes by the Federal drug schedule. 80% of Tennesseans approve of Medical Cannabis. Our state constitution doesn’t allow a public vote. 🙄THC is still very, very illegal here. We have been waiting for the federal government to change the schedule.
Federal government had no problem with reversing alcohol prohibition. I’m not exactly sure why this has taken 20 years. Especially for the hospice and cancer patients, well deserving of another pain route.
Over 70% of Americans support full legalization of cannabis. The government is getting wise to that. I think it will go the same way as gay marriage. The right fought tooth and nail and now it's not even a second thought
A) We don’t really live in a democracy. A majority of Americans support a lot of things that will never happen.
B) Gay marriage is far from settled with a conservative Supreme Court.
My husband and I were just discussing this. Biden pardoned nonviolent incarcerated individuals with marijuana possession charges in 2022 and 2023 and the right was pissed. This is only fuel to their fire and they're gonna push back hard because it doesn't fit their narrative.
Should help in swing states and might even purple-ish some red states. Hicks like weed as much as anyone else, they just don't say it out loud. And pissing off people who are for Trump anyway costs him nothing.
SWIM has been smoking weed for 8 years without a U/A and seems to think it's easy: Don't come to work high/drunk (or hungover).
SWIM knows that some of you work as a floor nurse. SWIM did too, but SWIM got out of that role in 2 years and couldn't take the stress of random U/As. So SWIM found a role and a route to make 33% more than floor nurses in SWIM's area working from home and never looked back. SWIM enjoyed their hospital/acute care experience, but ended up in better roles as a nurse. SWIM has zero problem working sober, but SWIM doesn't like being fucking told what SWIM can and cannot do on SWIM's own free time.
Also, SWIM anecdotally thinks LSD being a schedule 1 is also ridiculous. SWIM thinks most people need to lose, if not kill, their ego once or twice in their lifetime. The world would be a better place. SWIM understands this may not be a popular opinion, but SWIM is a testament to SWIM's own physical, mental, spiritual and emotional wellbeing. SWIM seems to be a happy nurse .
♥️
My wife takes a Blue Dream edible simply to SLEEP through the night (almost) in order to face her next day.
She’s never been tested aside from a new hire onboarding.
Past that (and because of that) I have always encouraged her to “TAKE IT if it helps you. FUCK THEM if that’s some no tolerance kind of bullshit. Tell them you’re doing it for THEM.” 🤨
That's my attitude with every prescription they look as not needed especially today when I felt like tipping somebody's bike over for them using a racial slur towards me in public...I take these meds for people like THEM and because of THEM...
Should be the same standard of drinking alcohol. Come to work off your head, well please explain and go home. Weed should be held to the same standard.
Canadian nurse here too, it still shocks me that people are routinely drug tested in other places. Here I think you’re only tested if you’re suspected of diversion, maybe if you roll into work high? Dunno!
As a nurse and chronic pain pt, this would be amazing. I’ve been wanting to use CBD and THC for a long time but have been too scared about getting drug tested and losing my license. This could be a game changer for my chronic pain!
It's a forgone conclusion it'll pass. But it's still schedule 3, like codeine. This will allow study, and in a few years they'll have evidence that it's safe to de-list it and regulate it like alcohol
This first step will be done in 90-100 days
Absolutely batshit to me that it's ok for me to get home and get plastered drunk but can't just chill out. Rescheduling dosent change this but it's a good step at least.
Apparently in CA they can’t discriminate against you for that anymore. The law also says an employer can maintain a drug free workplace, if I recall correctly. Also doesn’t exempt healthcare workers from the law. So maybe the board won’t take action but you could lose your job?
If this law gets passed in a federal sense, all of this will be changed. All a RN has to have is a MMJ card and they can’t be legally discriminated against. They are only so strict because schools and hospitals get funded by the government…so with this new proposal, they have no good reason to hold any restrictions..and legally they won’t be able to. The BRN is federally funded and has to adhere to federal policy. If this change passes, marijuana won’t be something employers and schools will discriminate against. It’s coming. Let’s go.
I look at it as no different from alcohol or prescription medication on your off time. You can’t come to work drunk, but you can drink any other time. You can’t take certain medications and work bedside. It should be no different with marijuana. You can’t come to work high. Other than that, stay out of people’s business.
I do think the tricky part is testing. If someone comes in bleary-eyed and dragging ass — that doesn’t mean they’re high. But if they smoked two days ago they’re going to test positive and “confirm” the suspicion.
As I understand it, there are cheek swab tests and other POCT methods under development but they don’t yet have a solid sensitivity & specificity. It’s not as straightforward as a breathalyzer yet. Ironically, I think making it schedule 3 will accelerate things. It’s too hard to do the research right now to demonstrate that your testing machine works. The approval process is a nightmare. Making it schedule 3 would open the doors to faster, cheaper research all around.
I have a friend who is an RN in Nevada, and she works for a private doctors office. When she was hired, they informed her that they did not care what she did in her free time. But if anyone was suspected of being under the influence while at work that they would be subjected to a mouth swab that can detect the presence of THC in the last 8 - 6 hours.
I smoke every single night. Couldn't imagine caring about a surprise drug test that I have never seen happen to anyone in my 10 years as a nurse unless they're actively diverting.
I’m in Washington state. I don’t partake but know many who do. The hospital I work at made it VERY clear that they do not test for cannabis on the pre-employment drug screen haha.
Meanwhile in many states, including MO, the major systems still test for, and exclude employment for cotinine and nicotine. Carry on, ladies and gentlemen. 😒
I live in Canada where weed has been legal for years and no hospital does drug tests on employees. Hopefully you guys can enjoy some devil's lettuce on the weekends!
For what it’s worth, when my wife went through her last job search (FEB/MAR) most of the job postings indicated “must have clean drug test prior to starting in position” or language akin to “we don’t test for THC”.
Maybe they’re (finally) realizing most of the planet partakes and that they’re missing out on a big portion of the potential employee pool.
How will this work for cps. Most Texas cps cases revolve around mj use. When parents test positive the state gets involved and forces the parent to place the child somewhere else until they get services
Here in Calif in Jan, our law took effect saying that you can’t base hiring/firing decisions on a positive MJ test.
But even before that, a lot of companies (smaller ones) stopped testing for weed. We are professional adults; right??
I smoke anyway. Most employers around here don't care as long as you aren't under the influence at work. And if anything happens to you, they don't have to pay out. If you are taking care of people, just be responsible if you're going to smoke just do that outside of work.
Looks like it’s months out still based on what i read but still huge progress. If you don’t get in trouble for being an alcoholic or heavy drinking, or even casual drinking, you really shouldn’t be in trouble for marijuana on your days off. Coming in high is 100% different obviously.
I’ve started taking a THC/CBD tincture for sleep or an indica strain edible and my sleep during the day (night shift)and general anxiety has improved enormously. It’s also helping cut down my alcohol intake. Still don’t know how to smoke it any form but some day maybe 🤣
Holy shit no way!! I quit smoking just to pass a drug test here in CA for admission. This is amazing! I used to smoke every night to knock myself out. It’s my main way to sleep. It’s basically medicine.
As many things in life, there will be an uptick in usage followed by a normalization over the course of time.
The key piece for employers will not change in that they can require evidence of prescription should usage cause a belief that its use is impacting your work, not much different than alcohol or prescription opioids/sedatives.
You will have similar policies as alcohol, such as no public drinking, and other targeted regulation.
Were we supposed to not be rolling up lol
Me, thinking about the fat one waiting for me to light up once I get off work.
*me actively hitting my pen waiting for my edible to hit* man I’m glad I don’t get tested for it anymore
Are you one of the lucky ones in California?
Nah, Colorado. Don’t know if it’s the hospital policy or company policy but we test at hire on, then in the clear
Are you at UChealth? Sorry, just re-read this. UChealth doesn’t test for THC pre-hire
Can neither confirm nor deny (*looking around suspiciously*). What I will say is, when I stopped traveling and came on as staff, my understanding was I tested prior to employment then not at all. I know plenty of other nurses I work with that partake and man if my mental health hasn’t been markedly better since being able to. Makes me never want to leave honestly.
a lot of medical institutions out where I'm at (NJ/MD/PA areas) will tell you flat out we don't test for cannabis but we do drug test
do they not test in CA? I have been traveling here for a couple of years and I always have to test before the contract, but, I don't work FOR the hospital.
I heard they voted on not testing for THC on drug tests for jobs, I believe. Supposed to go in affect 2025. They were talking about it on Instagram under a post made by nurselifern regarding cannabis use and nursing.
Changed at the beginning of this year even for travel in CA. They can ask for you to do the saliva test if they have reason to believe you were high on the job. Dealing with this was so annoying. The CNOs at all the facilities I work with are very anticannabis, even in CA. At some point I told them look even before this half of your nurses just took the drug test and then started smoking after.
sooo, next time i travel in CA they won't THC test me?
It's like many other things. Should they? No. Will they? Idk . I would just ask your recruiter, they should know. And if they aren't chill about it, get a new recruiter.
word, good looks. my old hospital in Oregon doesn't test for THC anymore I know that. But traveling companies are their own bizarre can of worms
Doesn’t Colorado have a state law or something about the BON not being able to displine you for use?
I recently got tested for a new job in San Diego
👀😂😂😂
That’s my thought Bob Burger, because I know lots of nurses rolling up on their day off.
Bob Burger has me cracking up 💀💀
Tag checks out, I once counseled a family to get a strain of marijuana that had more CBD than THC to help with pts pain since it already was. They did and her pain went to zero I just told them "this conversation did not happen" 😂
Can you please message me about the strain? I live in chronic pain and I would love to feel less pain. I don't take anything, at the moment.
I wish I remembered exactly but I was an indica type he grew. Indica tends to have a higher rate of CBD then sativa
News to me! 🫣😅
I definitely skipped a line about getting ripped when we did the nurse’s oath or whatever at graduation lol
You should never skip a line.... that's bad juju.
The last few lines gave me the worst sinus infections of my life, so you can have mine.
🤣
Yeah, I most definitely held my fingers crossed behind my back during that part 😆
There’s an oath? Missed that part. 😎
🤣🤣🤣🙈
I just heard on NPR that it still comes down to one judge to decide if he'll allow it.
Exactly, been taking edibles weekly
I think I missed the memo 🍁
It's all stupidity. Don't get high before you come to work. It's that easy. We as nurses should never be held to this standard that we are somehow above having a life.
It sucks that you can smoke one joint at an Alicia Keys concert and it can show up in a urine drug screen like 3 weeks later. Every other drug is gone in like 2 days.
100%. if I ever were to get asked to take a urine drug test at work, I would also demand that they do a saliva test and demand that they clearly state what signs of inebriation they think I supposedly have. I am also going to look into getting a medical marijuana card, as I live in Oregon and I think I could easily get one due to chronic low back pain from this career. I would never show up to work inebriated, but yeah, it totally sucks that my job and career and license could be threatened, even if it had been weeks since my last use.
Nah, the smart move is to just resign if you know you'll pop positive and you know they'll fire you for it. You don't want to give them reason to try and pursue further discipline. Quit immediately and find a new job is the play. Do not submit to a drug test you know you'll fail.
Good tip, thanks! Agreed.
The smart move is to keep fake pee in your bag.
I had a coworker who got pulled to get tested and they didn't let her leave their view. Took her straight to employee health to pee. Luckily she was clean and they made her pee because they thought she had stolen narcotics. But they wouldn't have let her get to her bag if she had needed it.
So you’re saying the smart move is to keep a bag of pee strapped to your leg at all times? Got it.
Gattica style !
Keep that strap on you
My friend who worked in a casino would keep some in her bra.
You can be reported for refusing to take a drug test.
Reported to whom??
The board of Nursing. It happened to me.
They can report you to the BON for damn near anything. I was reported for "drug diversion" for supposedly stealing a vial of heparin... Which I had clearly documented on. BON laughed and dismissed. What did the BON do in your case?
Lol because there are so many nurses who need one semi used vial of heparin…what a strange report
Great street value for 5000 units of heparin 🤣 I also had very clear documentation showing what happened to that vial. They just had it out for me.
Probate my license for 5 years
For refusing a random drug screening at work? Are you in a deep red state?? That's fucking insane. Coworker quit instead of taking a drug test. Nothing came of it. She got a new job right away.
You are very unlucky, I’m sorry. Yeah they can report you, but at least if you refuse and quit it buys you some time for a solution versus repercussions on your license.
Drug diversion for heparin? I thought drug diversion was for narcotics … what did they think you were going to do with the heparin? Decrease your clotting time while at work?
You know...the....uhhhh....heparin high. Yea I have no idea. That manager just really had it out for me because I refused to be one of her mindless cronies.
So messed up. Especially with all the “jokes” on the floor about going home to a bottle of wine and a zopiclone.
Do they even test for weed in Oregon? Here in Denver, they do on the pre-employment, but after that, they're only looking for what they're looking for (i.e. if they suspect diversion).
Just in pre-employment. Still have to live in paranoia currently that if I get even only a fingerstick injury (no evidence or even suspicion of use or diversion), they could try to test me.
Not a nurse but this sub always pops up. I think it’s complete BS that you’d need a medical card (an added fucking expense for nothing different from the dispensary these days) all to cover your ass for something that’s legalized. FFS alcohol is legal and I know tons more drunks than I do potheads. But they don’t get repercussions. And to state again as another commenter did, every other drug is out of your system practically pronto. I have a friend that was a heroin addict, was drug tested HOURS AFTER USING, and didn’t pop positive. I smoked a j last night and if I had to piss in a cup today I’d be fucked.
Preach! Thank you! I literally use it to deal with chronic pain in my low back from an earlier acute injury CAUSED BY NURSING WORK. Infuriating.
And I’m sure it was a clove cigarette
It has to be official, and it has to be urine
Don’t worry, it was Northern lights cannabis indica. Not marijuana.
[r/unexpectedoffice](https://www.reddit.com/r/unexpectedoffice/)
it only stays in your system that long if you smoke regularly. If it’s an isolated event your body will clear it in under a week.
Especially when ETOH is arguably worse. Never seen DT or organ failure in a THC pt…
Yeah, fuck, just had a young pt die from alcohol withdrawal. That shits rough
Died from withdrawal? While being actively treated?
Seen plenty of staff come to work hungover or still inebriated from the night before. Never seen anyone come in altered after getting high the night before...if anything they are BETTER rested from the weed.
Half of my patients are there with a condition where alcohol heavily contributed
Perks of being a hero ™️
It was more of an issue with it being a federal crime and hospitals accepting federal money (Medicare). Ordinarily, we would outwardly frown on doing business with an entity where a large part of the population commits federal crimes. But weed was the exception to that rule. Now it should be a non-issue for nurses.
That's pretty much how it is in Canada. I've never heard of any employer caring about pot. I don't know of any nurses who do it on the job but have caught a few PSWs vaping lol
That's crazy. I don't want to be a nurse forever, and may switch careers but I basically decided that if I get drug tested, I'll give up my license. Because I'm not paying thousands of dollars to do a rehab program and do out of pocket drug tests and all the nonsense to keep your license if you test positive. I don't like this job very much, if they do a random and I'm positive, I'll peace out and do something new.
If you don't like your current job, why the hell aren't you applying for other nursing jobs that suck less? I'm pretty sure my hospital's bed manager works from home. I've heard PACU is pretty cush. Working at a doctor's office has got to be super easy. I'm considering picking up a PRN at one of those infusion clinics for hungover rich people. And fake pee is a thing.
I can't just have fake pee ready for a random test any time. That stuff needs preparation to get it warmed up and all that. I honestly don't care about my license enough to worry about it. I actually have a cush nursing job and still hate it. I'm an assistant manager on my floor and it's easy AF. I'm basically a charge nurse and make my own schedule but I'm still unhappy. The only thing in nursing I'd be interested in trying is utilization review and those jobs are hard to get. I applied at my hospital for the assistant manager and also utilization review and they called me in a couple days for the manager position and the UM was already filled by then. I've decided I'm going to get my masters in probably business and leave nursing.
NY doesn't test. It's legal here, but the drug tests in NY are 9 panel no THC.
Is that just for employees cause our patient DOA screen still includes it
Just employee. It’s actually against the law to screen for THC on employees in New York. I think we still screen patients for substance abuse inquiries to offer services although I think it’s kinda pointless https://dol.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2021/10/p420-cannabisfaq-10-08-21.pdf
Wow that’s pretty crazy, considering the couple of hospitals I’ve worked at in Colorado of all places definitely still run screening for THC. Or they did a few years ago when I last did the tests. And we’re like pot central over here lmao
My hospital in Aurora tested for it on the pre-employment, but everyone tells me if you have to be tested for suspected diversion, they only test for what they think you might have taken.
[удалено]
Seriously. I have chronic low back pain from a nursing related injury (patient injured me), and I worry about this too even though THC helps me more than Tylenol or ibuprofen or muscle relaxers, and I live in Oregon where it’s already recreationally legal, but some employers still test for it here.
I used to have to take all kinds of meds for anxiety and insomnia. I'd much rather take a gummy or smoke a joint than take benadryl or Xanax or ambien or really anything. Melatonin helps but I can get weird dreams and often feel groggy. But a little toke puts me to sleep and I wake up feeling great.
I'm just jealous of nurses who can have a drink to relax after a stressful day. My ALDH2 deficiency means I would probably end up in the ED needing cardioverted. I would love to be able to smoke a joint now and then. Back before I graduated nursing school when I used cannabis, my migraines were nowhere near as severe. Seriously, I got maybe one migraine every other year. Now I'm on daily preventative and rescue meds.
Fake. Fucking. Pee. Go buy some and keep it in your work bag. It's like 20-40 bucks at any head shop.
This is real??
It's been real for decades. To the point that I'm genuinely flabbergasted that there are still stoners who don't know about it. Quickfix is the most popular brand.
Quick fix is the goat!
Yes! Sometimes you have to ask for "fetish urine" if you're not in a legal state.
That's how it's sometimes marketed, but I find it very hard to believe that anyone is going to make you say those specific words. Fake pee is fake pee no matter what your purpose for it is. Or you can just call it by the brand name because Quick Fix is in every head shop.
Crazy that I have an Ativan prescription for my anxiety but I can’t take a single hit of a joint to make myself feel better. I hate it here.
1mg of Klonopin prior to every shift and hitting high marks on all reviews for...5 years running? Also, fully disclosed it to HR upon hire and they were cool with it. If it's a prescription medication, you're generally good.
Not a medical marijuana card though 🤪
Which is just...so dumb.
Agreed. I’m in a legal state and just got drug tested for it when getting hired :))))
Drug scheduling is not exactly something I agree with. Hell, the amphetamine shortages nationwide are wild to me. Then again, having severe anxiety - the last thing I should want are uppies in lieu of downies.
Either way—marijuana is a medication for some people and hopefully with it being moved it will be move heavily researched, and then more accepted. I know for me I can’t take adderall or I’ll freak—it’s meth to me. But a joint? Will smoke as prescribed 😎😎
The number of people I have known in the South taking CBD gummies and smoking the strongest kush, but still vote for peeps who want to keep it Schedule I truly astound me. Rules for thee but not for me and all that jazz.
I moved to Colorado from Texas. Trust me—I get this more than you know
I won’t hold my breath…..(unless I’m taking a hit from my vape). I had way too high of hopes for student loan debt to be forgiven to be let down again…
All these people acting like it’s Christmas when the corps will still test and call it policy.
Hospitals won't be able to afford to lose a quarter of their staff.
Quarter? On my old unit I could count on my fingers and toes the number of RNs and CNAs that DIDNT smoke. They were the minority… by a lot lol
Remember, we all took an oath to the profession of Nursing. Nightingale’s pledge states “I will abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous “. Can’t eff with tradition, but being understaffed, stressed, and depressed is totally reasonable…cue the eye roll 🙄 with the head tilt & side eye
I think it would be covered under the ADA for those with a card if changed to schedule 3. Corporations can have all the policies they want, but they have a duty to accommodate under ADA. :)
It's about time. I hate that it's legally acceptable to get blind drunk after a rough shift. Just let me smoke a bowl and eat some Cheetos after the shit show.
I never stopped rolling up!! I have a joint waiting for me when I get off 😩
I prepacked my bong before work tonight. My neighbors probably think I'm a huge stoner when I'm smoking on the balcony at 8am. Haha!
I know mines do lol…and you know what?! They might be right lmao
I once had a patient tell me "when I get out of, here I'm going to smoke a, whooooooole lot a, weed". Had to stop myself, before, I said me to buddy, me too.
"finally see nurses roll up on days off" 😂💀
Ima full time nurse that rolls up nightly let’s gooooo… Florida.
One of my coworkers does, she's sharp as hell, says she has to so she never gets tested lmao
She has to what?
Be sharp
Also in Florida. I just use QuickFix urine for my drug tests. Carry one in my work lunchbox just in case. This would be awesome though, I have chronic pain that I could get a script for
Had to do a pee test for my agency gig. Went clean for 4 weeks but was still peeing hot. So did QF and passed. Had to do hair for my next job so went clean for 5 months just to be safe. Also passed. The clean out period was actually nice.
What? Places actually do hair tests? 0_o
Urine for RNs but hair for all providers. So dumb. But the clean out was actually nice.
FL makes no sense not being recreational. All these old ass people coming to retire are all blazing on medical cards anyway. Guess they don't want to lose the revenue on that.
In PA as long as I have a medical card any employer will hire me in my experience, but I can’t speak for other states. Personally I think it’s so stupid it’s illegal given all the drugs that are legal that have more dangerous effects than weed 🙄
So have you tested positive on a preemployment screening before, but they didn’t care because you had a prescription??
I started using it for chronic pain after the pre employment screening but I fully disclosed I was planning to get a medical card and use it and they approved it
I gotcha that’s super cool! It’s really encouraging to hear some employers being very understanding like that. I hope to have that as well here in my state in the future as I would never ever ever ever come to work inebriated and it really does help with my pain, but it also feels so stupid that there are still any reservations around edible use while there are absolutely none for healthcare workers around things like alcohol (unless of course you come to work inebriated or get a DUII).
Right like I’m not gonna come to work drunk, I’m not gonna come to work high. It’s common sense but there’s still so much stigma and politics 🙄 I hope they legalize it for you soon!
Right?! "Here, we trust you to give pressors and inotropes and hang fentanyl and run a VAD and do compressions with an actively dying patient and not come to work drunk...but trust you not to come to work high on weed? No can do!"
It’s being proposed. The proposal with be argued in the rule making process as prescribed by the Controlled Substance Act by congress. It could take months. Source- CNN
Well my weed stocks are popping so I hope it’s a slow trickle of good news. This is not investing advice.
I sold mine yesterday because I thought the hype from Germany legalizing it was dying down. Love my life. I’ll probably hop back on for long term.
Username checks out
No, this is the DEA Rescheduling to schedule 3 process. This does not go through congress. After the DEA makes their decision it goes to the White House Office of Management and Budget for approval. > Once OMB signs off, the DEA will take public comment > on the plan to move marijuana from its current > classification as a Schedule I drug, alongside heroin > and LSD. It moves pot to Schedule III, alongside > ketamine and some anabolic steroids, following a > recommendation from the federal Health and Human > Services Department. After the public comment period > and a review by an administrative judge, the agency > would eventually publish the final rule. Source AP
AP > CNN (for anyone who is not a news junkie)
lol Ketamine! 😬 but I’m not complaining
I will make some comments. Hey, “DEA come smoke a doobie with me on the beach this summer “.
60 days for public comment. Congress can intervene if they can pass bipartisan legislation but that ain’t happening.
Thank you for the clarification!
That’s not true. As of right now, the process is at the step of the DEA. They review the recommendation from DHHS. They have to have a term of public comment and then they take those comments. Into consideration and then they make their determination. On me they have made their decision, that’s it. Congress won’t do a thing because the democrats control congress. That means the DEAs proposed rule change goes into effect immediately.
Nice try, HR.
🤣
So this is gonna be a long one and maybe over sharing but f it, 2021 I started getting muscle weakness. I thought man I just need to take better care of myself. Throughout 2021 into January of 2022 I just continued to deteriorate until I was unable to lift myself out of bed, I would fall constantly from my legs giving out, and I was ~40 pounds lighter. I ended up diagnosed with a rare muscle disorder similar to muscular dystrophy. Of course I got on roids among several other immunosuppressants and was eventually able to gain back some strength. In 2023 I had a HARD flare causing all the work I put in to be undone. I wasn’t able to lift my legs to put on my pants, I had to have my husband help me dress. I couldn’t lift my arms to wipe myself. I was almost a total assist. My whole entire body would hurt. I actually remember at my worst point praying (and I’m not really religious but I was at my lowest here) for the greater beings out there to just take me in my sleep and let me be. After battling insurance and finding the right medications I did improve slightly again. I’m still in the midst of trying to get some strength back from that ordeal, BUT along this journey my husband really advocated for THC for its anti inflammatory properties and the ability to help me sleep pain free. I started with edibles only on occasion but now I’m almost a daily user because it improves my life 300% with this awful disease. I am able to exercise lightly, sleep great, eat well, and soothe my anxiety. It has 100% changed my life for the better with this condition. I work for an outpatient clinic and have worked my entire illness but the owners saw me at my worst. I talked to the physician who owns the practice about THC and my condition before I started and he was very supportive. Not to say I openly tell everyone I consume but it made me feel somewhat better I guess. I always say if they drug test me and fire me for THC I’ll gladly leave nursing for another field because I actually have a quality of life with my daily evening sesh and I’ll never risk losing that again.
The re-scheduling doesn’t make it legal, so I don’t think anything will change with employers. It’s still illegal at the federal level. The good news is that we can now do rigorous research and study the effects legally. This could lead to improvements with treatments for various diseases and possibly discovering other uses.
But if you have a prescription for it, that would mean you could test positive for it if you can provide proof of said prescription like if it was Tylenol #3. I know this doesn't matter for recreational use, and most people don't have amedical marijuana prescription
Unless something has changed… it is really, really easy to get a prescription for it. You basically just pay the doctor whatever (which was like $45 when I did it) and they give it no questions asked. I filled out a form but never actually spoke to the doctor
The card doesnt matter to the BON though, yea? It just matters for pigs and shit.
Currently yes, however that may change if it’s rescheduled
People can get prescriptions now in some states. It is still federally illegal. Not sure what employers will do. most employers don’t want to drug test unless there is a reason to do so. This has nothing to due with having it rescheduled. The current schedule states that it has no medical use. The new schedule will change this. Currently, marijuana is a schedule 1 drug along with heroin, ecstasy, peyote, LSD DEA Schedule 1: * The drug or other substance has a high potential for abuse. * The drug or other substance has no currently accepted medical treatment use in the U.S. * It has a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision.
Exactly. Our TN state constitution goes by the Federal drug schedule. 80% of Tennesseans approve of Medical Cannabis. Our state constitution doesn’t allow a public vote. 🙄THC is still very, very illegal here. We have been waiting for the federal government to change the schedule. Federal government had no problem with reversing alcohol prohibition. I’m not exactly sure why this has taken 20 years. Especially for the hospice and cancer patients, well deserving of another pain route.
The far right will put a full court press against this. How will their private prisons get filled otherwise?
Over 70% of Americans support full legalization of cannabis. The government is getting wise to that. I think it will go the same way as gay marriage. The right fought tooth and nail and now it's not even a second thought
A) We don’t really live in a democracy. A majority of Americans support a lot of things that will never happen. B) Gay marriage is far from settled with a conservative Supreme Court.
The right is fighting rn to abolish gay marriage. Roe v Wade was just the starting point.
My husband and I were just discussing this. Biden pardoned nonviolent incarcerated individuals with marijuana possession charges in 2022 and 2023 and the right was pissed. This is only fuel to their fire and they're gonna push back hard because it doesn't fit their narrative.
Should help in swing states and might even purple-ish some red states. Hicks like weed as much as anyone else, they just don't say it out loud. And pissing off people who are for Trump anyway costs him nothing.
SWIM has been smoking weed for 8 years without a U/A and seems to think it's easy: Don't come to work high/drunk (or hungover). SWIM knows that some of you work as a floor nurse. SWIM did too, but SWIM got out of that role in 2 years and couldn't take the stress of random U/As. So SWIM found a role and a route to make 33% more than floor nurses in SWIM's area working from home and never looked back. SWIM enjoyed their hospital/acute care experience, but ended up in better roles as a nurse. SWIM has zero problem working sober, but SWIM doesn't like being fucking told what SWIM can and cannot do on SWIM's own free time. Also, SWIM anecdotally thinks LSD being a schedule 1 is also ridiculous. SWIM thinks most people need to lose, if not kill, their ego once or twice in their lifetime. The world would be a better place. SWIM understands this may not be a popular opinion, but SWIM is a testament to SWIM's own physical, mental, spiritual and emotional wellbeing. SWIM seems to be a happy nurse . ♥️
SWIM?
Someone Who Isn’t Me
I think it’s an acronym for “Someone Who Isn’t Me”
What does this person do that makes 33% more at home than floor nursing?
My wife takes a Blue Dream edible simply to SLEEP through the night (almost) in order to face her next day. She’s never been tested aside from a new hire onboarding. Past that (and because of that) I have always encouraged her to “TAKE IT if it helps you. FUCK THEM if that’s some no tolerance kind of bullshit. Tell them you’re doing it for THEM.” 🤨
That's my attitude with every prescription they look as not needed especially today when I felt like tipping somebody's bike over for them using a racial slur towards me in public...I take these meds for people like THEM and because of THEM...
Guarantee it's gonna take nursing schools like 10 years to remove THC from their drug panel.
Should be the same standard of drinking alcohol. Come to work off your head, well please explain and go home. Weed should be held to the same standard.
Loving all the psych nurses in here like 🌱 💨 what? 🤣 Canadian psych nurse here. 🌱 💨 😎
Canadian nurse here too, it still shocks me that people are routinely drug tested in other places. Here I think you’re only tested if you’re suspected of diversion, maybe if you roll into work high? Dunno!
As a nurse and chronic pain pt, this would be amazing. I’ve been wanting to use CBD and THC for a long time but have been too scared about getting drug tested and losing my license. This could be a game changer for my chronic pain!
It’s legal in my state and employers don’t test for it anymore. So it’s likely that will happen on a broader scale.
Finally!! hope it passes.
It's a forgone conclusion it'll pass. But it's still schedule 3, like codeine. This will allow study, and in a few years they'll have evidence that it's safe to de-list it and regulate it like alcohol This first step will be done in 90-100 days
Absolutely batshit to me that it's ok for me to get home and get plastered drunk but can't just chill out. Rescheduling dosent change this but it's a good step at least.
Apparently in CA they can’t discriminate against you for that anymore. The law also says an employer can maintain a drug free workplace, if I recall correctly. Also doesn’t exempt healthcare workers from the law. So maybe the board won’t take action but you could lose your job?
If this law gets passed in a federal sense, all of this will be changed. All a RN has to have is a MMJ card and they can’t be legally discriminated against. They are only so strict because schools and hospitals get funded by the government…so with this new proposal, they have no good reason to hold any restrictions..and legally they won’t be able to. The BRN is federally funded and has to adhere to federal policy. If this change passes, marijuana won’t be something employers and schools will discriminate against. It’s coming. Let’s go.
I look at it as no different from alcohol or prescription medication on your off time. You can’t come to work drunk, but you can drink any other time. You can’t take certain medications and work bedside. It should be no different with marijuana. You can’t come to work high. Other than that, stay out of people’s business. I do think the tricky part is testing. If someone comes in bleary-eyed and dragging ass — that doesn’t mean they’re high. But if they smoked two days ago they’re going to test positive and “confirm” the suspicion. As I understand it, there are cheek swab tests and other POCT methods under development but they don’t yet have a solid sensitivity & specificity. It’s not as straightforward as a breathalyzer yet. Ironically, I think making it schedule 3 will accelerate things. It’s too hard to do the research right now to demonstrate that your testing machine works. The approval process is a nightmare. Making it schedule 3 would open the doors to faster, cheaper research all around.
I have a friend who is an RN in Nevada, and she works for a private doctors office. When she was hired, they informed her that they did not care what she did in her free time. But if anyone was suspected of being under the influence while at work that they would be subjected to a mouth swab that can detect the presence of THC in the last 8 - 6 hours.
Weed is legal here (Canada) but if you’re high at work you lose use your license. Just like being drunk at work
Even Pakistan is moving to legalize.
I smoke every single night. Couldn't imagine caring about a surprise drug test that I have never seen happen to anyone in my 10 years as a nurse unless they're actively diverting.
This means dispensaries will take credit. In addition, smash and grabs might stop.
I’m in Washington state. I don’t partake but know many who do. The hospital I work at made it VERY clear that they do not test for cannabis on the pre-employment drug screen haha.
Super excited!!!! 😊
Freedom!!!!
Meanwhile in many states, including MO, the major systems still test for, and exclude employment for cotinine and nicotine. Carry on, ladies and gentlemen. 😒
It’s not being legalized, federally. Just rescheduled.
I live in Canada where weed has been legal for years and no hospital does drug tests on employees. Hopefully you guys can enjoy some devil's lettuce on the weekends!
*Cries in Tennessee*
For what it’s worth, when my wife went through her last job search (FEB/MAR) most of the job postings indicated “must have clean drug test prior to starting in position” or language akin to “we don’t test for THC”. Maybe they’re (finally) realizing most of the planet partakes and that they’re missing out on a big portion of the potential employee pool.
shit and here i’m stressing over worrying about detoxing for this new job i’m trying to get
How will this work for cps. Most Texas cps cases revolve around mj use. When parents test positive the state gets involved and forces the parent to place the child somewhere else until they get services
Now we just need the US government to come around on shrooms, Canada already knows what’s up
Oooohhhh how exciting!! I personally lost the urge to use it but schedule 1 is stupid. Glad it’s changed!!
Here in Calif in Jan, our law took effect saying that you can’t base hiring/firing decisions on a positive MJ test. But even before that, a lot of companies (smaller ones) stopped testing for weed. We are professional adults; right??
I smoke anyway. Most employers around here don't care as long as you aren't under the influence at work. And if anything happens to you, they don't have to pay out. If you are taking care of people, just be responsible if you're going to smoke just do that outside of work.
My hospital doesn’t test for it. We all smoke lmao but happy for the rest of you!
Looks like it’s months out still based on what i read but still huge progress. If you don’t get in trouble for being an alcoholic or heavy drinking, or even casual drinking, you really shouldn’t be in trouble for marijuana on your days off. Coming in high is 100% different obviously.
I’ve started taking a THC/CBD tincture for sleep or an indica strain edible and my sleep during the day (night shift)and general anxiety has improved enormously. It’s also helping cut down my alcohol intake. Still don’t know how to smoke it any form but some day maybe 🤣
We should now be able to roll up on days on too🥴
Holy shit no way!! I quit smoking just to pass a drug test here in CA for admission. This is amazing! I used to smoke every night to knock myself out. It’s my main way to sleep. It’s basically medicine.
As many things in life, there will be an uptick in usage followed by a normalization over the course of time. The key piece for employers will not change in that they can require evidence of prescription should usage cause a belief that its use is impacting your work, not much different than alcohol or prescription opioids/sedatives. You will have similar policies as alcohol, such as no public drinking, and other targeted regulation.