Peer Advocacy for Impaired Nurses, LLC © 2008-
Everyday a nurse is reported to a board of nursing in this country. While there are numerous reasons a nurse might be reported, the most prevalent reason is due to impairment from substance abuse and/or chemical dependence.
How can this be? With all of their training, how could they possibly let this happen to themselves? They should know better than to get mixed up with drugs!
If you are thinking, “Exactly! How could these professional health care providers, with all of their knowledge and experience, let themselves become an addict?”, then you are in good company. The majority of people around the world think the same thing and ask the same questions. And therein lies the greatest obstacle to effectively deal with this DISEASE called addiction.
Because this disease starts with someone voluntarily using a mood altering substance, we make the assumption that they can stop “if they really want to, they just don’t want to!”
If we approached other chronic, progressive, ultimately fatal diseases in the same way we do THIS disease, morbidity and mortality rates would skyrocket. Right now, we are treating this disease as if it were a broken leg or bad infection. And we’re not doing a very good job. We wait too long to initiate treatment, treatment is not long enough or intensive enough, and there is inadequate follow up and monitoring.
We want to use our experience, strength and hope to advocate for the nurse struggling with this disease!
We can help guide the nurse through the process to get the help they need in order to save their life, rebuild relationships with family, and give them the tools they need to reenter the practice of nursing, if and when their treatment team gives them the green light. An addict isn’t responsible for their disease, but they ARE responsible for their recovery.
Those of us with this disease are NOT “bad” people trying to become “good”. We have a terrible disease and are trying get well! Unfortunately, we have lots of well intentioned people providing a great deal of inaccurate information which only serves to maintain the stigma which prevents people from seeking help. This attitude has GOT to change if we ever hope to turn things around.
Welcome to Peer Advocacy for Impaired Nurses!
Chemical dependence and substance abuse are the leading public health problems in
our society. The average age for a child’s first experiment with controlled substances
is between 11-
ASA Chemical Dependency
Hotline:
847-
AANA Peer Assistance
Hotline:
800-
“Helping the impaired nurse is difficult, but not impossible. The choices for acting are varied.
The only choice that is completely wrong is to do nothing.”
National Council of State Boards of Nursing (2001). Chemical Dependency Handbook
for Nurse Managers-
It is because of the STIGMA associated with substance abuse that:
- Some people won’t get treatment
- Some doctors won’t treat addicts
- Some pharmaceutical companies won’t be developing new treatments for addicts
NEW!!
Watch the Acclaimed Video Series, “Wearing Masks”
Provision 3. The nurse promotes, advocates for, and strives to protect the health, safety, and rights of the patient.
Nurses who are challenged with substance abuse problems not only pose a potential threat to those they care for, they have neglected above all to care for themselves. ANA recognizes that the nurse’s duty of compassion and caring extends to themselves and their colleagues, as well as to their patients.”
Latest Blog Posts
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
When Will Nursing Require Mandatory Addiction Education in ALL Nursing Programs?
May 29, 2010
Underage Drinking-
Hospital emergency department visits involving underage drinking nearly double during
the Fourth of July Holiday weekend according to a new study by the Substance Abuse
and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The study reveals that daily
underage drinking-
"Underage drinking is not a harmless right of passage. It has far-
The study was developed as part of the agency’s strategic initiative on data, outcomes,
and quality -
A copy of the study is available at: http://oas.samhsa.gov/spotlight/Spotlight003UnderageAlcoholUse. pdf.
Information and materials on how to help prevent underage drinking are available at: http://www.underagedrinking.samhsa.gov/.
