Substance Abuse Among Nurses

[Audio] Substance abuse among nurses. By Daniela Acosta..

[Audio] How does substance abuse impact nurses? As nurses, people need to make sure they are in their best state of mind because it could mean saving a life. According to " Substance abuse among nurses," misusing substances can have great impacts on nurses outside of the clinical setting. If caught with an illegal substance, it could result in legal trouble, which will also most likely lead to a nurse losing their job. Addiction to a substance that alters a person's way of thinking could damage their personal and mental health. For example if a person is struggling with a mental disorder, the misuse of a substance may make their mental disorder worse, also destroying their personal health or becoming malnourished (Substance abuse among nurses, 2021)..

[Audio] What makes nurses at risk for substance abuse? Substance abuse can be an easy outlet for nurses who suffer from depression either from work or their personal life. Being a nurse usually results in a heavy workloads and working overtime. This could lead to stress, which is another risk for nurses to abuse substances. The fourth risk is easy access to drugs. As nurses we are around medications all the time so it makes it very easy to get medication; plus nurses have great knowledge on the medications that are available to them ( New Directions for Women, 2021)..

[Audio] How common is substance abuse among nurses? In 2009, reported cases found that less than 1% of employed RNs had a known substance abuse problem. The ANA or American Nurses Association indicates that up to 10% of RNs may be dependent on drugs or alcohol. Of unreported cases, between 14 and 20% of RNs in the US have a problem with substance abuse ( New Directions for Women). In 2016, there were approximately 3.1 million nurses in the US and about 8% of them experiences some sort of substance use disorder ( Baxley, Cipher, Mumba, & Snow). As of 2021, with the current pandemic and extremely stressful situations occurring, I believe these numbers have been rising and will continue to rise..

[Audio] What are the signs of substance abuse? According to " New Directions for Women," there are many signs that a staff member may be struggling with substance abuse. Some include that they may be late, lazy, or appear to be in a daze and that they look unkempt and simply do not care for their appearance. Another sign is when an RN's patient fails to receive their pain medication despite them being signed out or being reported as dispersed. The next sign is when a staff member isolates themselves from coworkers. And the last sign is having inappropriate emotional outbursts in their work settings (New Directions for Women)..

[Audio] How can substance abuse be used in clinical practice? The impact of substance abuse on nurses in a clinical setting alters many crucial aspects in the nursing workforce. Attendance is very important for a nurse because you have to be available at ALL times, and substance abuse is a risk for either missing work or showing up late. As a nurse, you need to be prepared to perform at the best of your abilities and to make the right decision, that is extremely difficult when someone is dependent on substances. A nurse who struggles with substance abuse usually shows unusual changes in behavior (making excessive mistakes, talking fast, slurred speech, etc.) and if behavior starts to become physical, it could result in a nurse injuring themselves, their colleagues, and even patients..

[Audio] How can nurses recover from substance abuse? Attempting to recover from substance abuse is a huge step in trying to better yourself for your career. Washington State Department of Health states that the Employee Assistance Program is a good program that offers help, which takes me to my next point. Having colleagues inform a supervisor about someone struggling with substance abuse may be a big help in getting the right help for that person. I think therapy is a great way for nurses to receive the help they need, but they need to be willing to get help. According to Indiana Professionals Recovery Program, those who suffer from substance abuse and participate in a recovery program "have an 80% success rate and a decreased chance of relapse.".

[Audio] How will substance abuse impact my role as a nurse? Throughout my life, I have always set goals and worked my hardest to achieve them. As a nurse, I want to do whatever I can to be the best nurse I can be and I want to continuously discipline myself and push myself to do that. Saying this, I need to learn control and know it's okay to take a break when I'm stressed. Substance abuse is becoming more common in the nursing community and some nurses use it because they are exposed to it in their personal lives; however, I do not have any family history with substance abuse so I think that gives me a greater chance of not relying on substances in the future..

References. Baxley, S. M., Cipher, D. J., Mumba, M., & Snow, D. E. (2019). A retrospective descriptive study of nurses with substance use disorders in Texas. Journal of Addictions Nursing , 30(2), 78-86 . http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/JAN0000000000000273 New Directions for women. (2021). The rise of substance abuse among nurses. Addiction Information . Nurses. (2019). Indiana Professionals Recovery Program. Substance abuse among nurses. (2021). The risk of substance abuse among nurses and nursing students. Addiction Resource. Washington State Department of Health. (2020). A guide for assisting colleagues who demonstrate impairment in the workplace. Washington Health Professional Services..