Substance Abuse Among Nurses

Paper Summary:

This paper reveals the statistics on health care professionals who regularly use dangerous drugs during job performance. The paper shows how substance abuse among nurses is a significant health problem for the impaired nurse, the nursing profession and healthcare consumers. An overview of the Texas Peer Assistance Program for Nurses (TPAPN) organization and its benefits is provided as well as a discussion on the need for early identification and treatment of the chemically dependent nurse. The paper calls for more education opportunities that also address the importance of stress as a contributing factor to substance dependency.

Outline:
Introduction
Definitions of Relevant Terms
Literature Review
Discussion
Conclusion

From the Paper:

""This is such a crazy day! I need a drink!" This exclamation is common among nurses who work in an increasingly stressful, complex, and distraught healthcare environment. Although usually said as a joke, the reality of nurses to have that drink and more is sobering. In fact, as cited in Kenna and Wood (2005), according to the Texas Nurses Association, one in seven nurses will struggle with alcohol or substance abuse at some point of his/her career. Stressful job environment, depression, and the short-term soothing effect of alcohol can be a dangerous combination for nurses - dangerous to health, career, and family relationships. The American Nurses Association (ANA) estimates that six to eight percent of nurses use alcohol and other drugs to extent that they impair their professional performance (ANA, 2002)."

Sample of Sources Used:

• American Nurses Association (ANA) (2002). The profession's response to the problems of addiction and psychiatric disorders in nursing. Retrieved February 11, 2009, from http://www.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ThePracticeofProfessionalNursing/workplace/ImpairedNurse/Response.aspx
• American Nurses Association (ANA) (2001). Code of Ethics for Nurses. Retrieved March 1, 2009, from http://nursingworld.org/ethics/code/protected_nwcoe813.htm
• American Nurses Association (ANA) (2005). Impaired Nurse Resource Center. Provision 3. The nurse promotes, advocates for, and strives to protect the health, safety, and rights of the patient. Retrieved March 25, 2009 from: http://nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ThePracticeofProfessionalNursing/workplace/ImpairedNurse.aspx
• Bennett, J. E., & Lehman, W. E. (2003). Preventing Workplace Substance Abuse: Beyond Drug Testing to Wellness [Electronic version]. Journal of Occupational & Environmental Medicine, 45(6), 662.
• Collins, R.L., Gollnisch G., & Morsheimer E. T, (1998). Work stress, coping, and substance use among female nurses. Retrieved from National Institute of Drug Abuse [NIDA] Web site: http://www.drugabuse.gov/PDF/DARHW/319-338_Collins.pdf.

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