Peer Advocacy for Impaired Nurses, LLC © 2008-
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CEO of Peer Advocacy for Impaired Nurses, LLC Joins Number One Self Improvement Web Site
By Peer Advocacy for Impaired Nurses, LLC
Dated: May 30, 2009
Jack Stem, CEO of the Cincinnati company Peer Advocacy for Impaired Nurses, LLC, has joined Self Growth, the number one self improvement site on the Internet. He joins other well known experts including Anthony Robbins, Stephen Covey, and Wayne Dyer.
Jack Stem, a recovering opioid addict and former Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) founded Peer Advocacy for Impaired Nurses to provide needed services for nurses who develop substance abuse (SA) and the disease called chemical dependence (CD). He is also the chair of the Peer Assistance Committee and one of two peer advisors for the Ohio State Association for Nurse Anesthetists. “Even though addiction has been recognized as a disease by major health care associations, including the American Medical Association, the American Nurses Association, and the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists, the front line providers still receive little, if any education about addiction in their training programs. As a result, the stigma associated with addiction continues to interfere with early recognition and intervention for nurses impaired by substance abuse and chemical dependence. Addiction continues to be seen as a moral failing and lack of willpower despite the enormous amount of scientific data about the disease and the effects of chronic substance misuse on the brain.”
Mr. Stem provides presentations and workshops for nurses, hospitals, nursing schools and other organizations. These programs discuss the disease process, early signs of impairment in nurses and other health care providers, how to perform an intervention, referral to treatment programs designed specifically for the unique needs of impaired health care professionals.
Other services include advocacy for nurses facing legal and professional consequences, assistance with developing and performing interventions, and education of colleagues and families of the impaired nurse.
“Addiction not only affects the addict, it also causes significant, inappropriate
coping mechanisms within the family and co-
Two additional services are offered. A relapse prevention course for those individuals seeking to develop skills and techniques to reduce the risk of relapse which will be offered beginning in July. Mr. Stem also
offers “recovery mentoring”. This is a one on one service in which the recovering nurse can hire Mr. Stem
on an hourly basis to develop recovery goals, and develop successful methods or techniques to achieve
those goals. “This mentoring service is not addiction treatment or counseling, nor is it a replacement for 12
Step and other support groups,” says Stem. “I provide a service that fills the gap between treatment
programs and 12 Step sponsorship, focusing on specific issues faced by the recovering nurse. It's similar to
hiring a personal trainer to help achieve specific fitness goals quicker and more effectively. I help them
discover their strengths in recovery and use those strengths to achieve a stronger base of recovery. In the
process, I hope to help them achieve happier, healthier lives, and to return to the practice of nursing if
possible.”
Nurses receive very little assistance from the board of nursing. State licensure boards see their function as
a protector of the public from unsafe nursing practice. If a nurse lives in a state without an effective
alternative to discipline program, the impaired nurse is essentially left on their own to try to find the
assistance they need and deserve. “If the nursing profession doesn't understand how to deal effectively with
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impaired colleagues, how can we expect non-
“Despite the abundant science regarding this disease, nurses continue to see addiction as a moral failing and
a lack of willpower. If I had a nickel for every time I heard the phrase, 'They did this to themselves, what
did they expect?', I could open 10 free clinics. I guarantee you, NO ONE chooses to become an addict. The
lack of even basic knowledge regarding the science of addiction perpetuates what I call the '3 Ms of
addiction', Myth, Misbelief, and Misunderstanding. If nursing would change the way they approach
impaired colleagues, the community at large would begin to change as well. I'm foolish enough to think one
person can make a difference and help the profession change the way they deal with impaired colleagues.”
Mr. Stem frequently posts messages and replies to questions regarding substance abuse on web sites
focused on nursing and nursing issues. “It's amazing to read some of the things nurses post on these nursing
forums and bulletin boards. Some have no basis in science whatsoever. Others are nothing more than
personal attacks on nurses seeking assistance and advice on how to get help in dealing with this destructive
disease. It's amazing to see a trained health care provider ignore the science in order to continue to hold on
to their belief that addiction is something someone chooses to do. This kind of behavior is unprofessional
and unethical. The Code of Ethics for Nurses developed by the American Nurses Association specifically
deals with the impaired nurse.”
Provision 3.6 of the Code of Ethics for Nurses addresses impaired practice. It basically states nurses have a
duty to take action to protect patients AND also assure their impaired colleague receives assistance in
regaining their health and optimal function. It goes on to say nurses in ALL roles should advocate for
colleagues who may be impaired. This is to ensure they receive appropriate help in finding treatment while
also helping them receive fair institutional and legal processes.
This assistance should also include support for the nurse to return to practice if their treatment provider
determines they are capable of doing so.
There is no excuse for the unprofessional and unethical treatment an impaired nurse, or any other person
dealing with addiction, receives from many nurses and other health care professionals. It's time for the
health care community to wake up.”
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About Peer Advocacy for Impaired Nurses, LLC: A provider of information regarding Substance Abuse
and Chemical Dependence in the nursing profession. Recovery mentoring, policy development,
presentations for nursing organizations, businesses and Faith communities on prevention, recognition, and
obtaining help for those dealing with substance abuse and chemical dependence.
Category Nursing, Recovery
Tags addiction, drug abuse, nurse, recovery, peer, advocacy
Email Click to email author
Phone 513-
City/Town Cincinnati
State/Province Ohio
Zip 45230
Country United States
