We expect nurses to take care of us when we are ill. It could be at the doctor’s office, clinics or hospitals. But who takes care of the nurses when they are suffering from a drug or alcohol problem? Part 1 discussed the statistics and causes of chemical dependency. Part 3 will provide information on prevention.
Consequences of Drug or Alcohol Abuse for Nurses
Chemical dependency is often not reported by colleagues because of loyalty or concern for them losing their nursing license. Lack of reporting has many costs. Treatment from nurses with addictions can result in:
- Patient medication errors or deaths
- Patient mistreatment or abuse
- Lower wages due to missing work for treatment or changing jobs due to addiction problems
- Losing their job and possibly career
- Emotional costs for nurses covering for abusive nurses
- Higher liability insurance costs for the nurse and hospitals
- Higher costs for hospitals and clinics needing to hire and train nurses to replace ones with addictions
- Higher costs for medical offices, clinics and hospitals from stolen drugs
Treatment
Most states, if not all by now, offer programs for the medical profession to treat chemical dependency addictions. These programs are usually paid for by their annual licensing fees, are confidential and incur no punitive repercussions.
The nurses who seek help are required to complete these fundamental requirements in order to keep their license and job (will vary by state):
- Complete an inpatient drug or alcohol dependency program.
- Be monitored and submit to random drug or alcohol tests for three years. Depending upon the severity of their addiction, they must submit to random testing 3-10 times per month. The nurse addict calls a number every day which tells them whether they must be tested that day and where to go.
- Attend 12-step meetings 3 or more times per week that are held for health professionals.
- Meet regularly with a physician who specializes in addiction.
- Obtain and meet with a sponsor to help advise them on recovery obstacles.
- Obtain a work monitor, normally their boss, who is aware of the program and can be in touch with employees of the state’s monitoring program.
However, many have said that the hardest part was learning how to ask for help. As a nurse, they are trained to help others first, but nurses with substance dependencies had to re-train themselves that they are an addict first, then a nurse or mother. If they can’t take care of their addiction first they aren’t able to function in their other roles. However, the success rate while in the program is rather high and is attributed to the state’s silent threat to take away their nursing license and stringent monitoring, counseling and testing requirements. The state’s licensing board is notified if a nurse does not fulfill the program and requirements.
Part 3 will provide information on prevention, Part 1 covered Statistics & Causes.