Peer Advocacy for Impaired Nurses, LLC © 2008-
The Addicted Health Care Professional
When Alcohol is the Drug of Choice (some of those listed under “When Other Drugs are Used” below may also apply to alcohol)
- Tendency to isolate
- Preference for working alone to avoid being caught
- Irritability with peers, making mountains out of mole hills
- Decrease in productivity as the disease progresses
- (Once noted for doing incredible amounts of work in a short period of time, they now are taking more time in performing simple tasks.)
- Lateness and tardiness for work
- Odor of alcohol on breath or excessively noticeable odor of mouthwash (many brands have up to 25% ETOH)
- Frequent intoxication at social functions
- Isolation from social functions to drink alone
- Morning hangovers
- Slurred speech
- Illegible writing in charts, if they are usually neat
When Other Drugs are Used (some of the above will apply also)
- Arrive at work early and stay late in order to obtain drugs
- Volunteer for additional shifts to increase access to drugs
- Often volunteer to be in charge of the "med" keys
- Excessive breakage of vials or pre-
filled syringes - Prefer shifts where there is less supervision
- May exhibit rapid mood swings (irritable with patients one minute, then calm and jovial the next)
- Make frequent trips to the bathroom
- Dramatic change in mood (euphoric, mellow, agitated, “manic”, etc.) AFTER their bathroom break
- Bloody tissues and/or syringes in bathrooms, call rooms, locker rooms, lockers, bags, lab coats, cars, or around the house
- Experience frequent job changes in past 5 years
- Have unexplained lapses between jobs
- Choose positions where supervision is less likely
- Exhibit dilated or constricted pupils
- May have unexplained injuries on arms, hands, or body
- Signs of domestic violence (male or female)
- Wearing long sleeves when they rarely did in the past and/or even when it’s warm
- Elaborate explanations for minor incidents
- Periods of amnesia for events or conversations
- Nodding off during conversations
- Found unconscious or dead in bathrooms, locker rooms, call rooms, closets, etc.
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In order to diagnose possible substance abuse or addiction, there must be a degree of suspicion and a willingness to accept it can happen in anyone we know, including family, friends and colleagues. Believing that someone can’t be an addict based on their training or level of education is a common myth. Training does not provide immunity! Intelligence does not prevent abuse or addiction. This isn’t about intelligence, morals or “goodness”. It’s a disease that affects the brain, and therefore it affects emotions and behavior.
Believing that someone can’t be an addict based on their training or level of education is a common myth. Training does not provide immunity! Intelligence does not prevent abuse or addiction. This isn’t about intelligence, morals or “goodness”. It’s a disease that affects the brain, and therefore it affects emotions and behavior.