Early Risk Indicators of Substance Abuse Among Nurses

West, Margaret M.

doi:10.1111/j.1547-5069.2002.00187.x

Cited by 15 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 32 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Many nurses in the current study referred to such factors as isolation, depression, and anxiety as contributing to their addiction. Most noted a positive family history of addiction as well as early victimization, which have been referred to by Mynatt (1996Mynatt ( , 1998 and West (2002) as predisposing factors for the development of addiction. The majority of the nurses also listed medical problems and comorbid psychiatric diagnoses as issues contributing to their addiction; this also has been identified in the literature (Grant & Dawson, 1999;Sullivan, 1989Sullivan, , 1991.…”

Section: Personal and Professional Stressorsmentioning

confidence: 96%

CE FEATURE Alternative Diversion Programs for Nurses with Impaired Practice: Completers and Non-Completers

Darbro

2005

Journal of Addictions Nursing

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The purpose of this study was to describe, explain, and compare the experiences of nurses who were completers and non-completers of an alternative diversion program for chemically dependent nurses. Risk factors for substance abuse are explored.Sixteen nurses who had participated in an alternative diversion program for chemically dependent nurses were interviewed for this study. Fourteen of these nurses completed second interviews. Qualitative analysis of these interviews was conducted utilizing the constant comparative method.Common issues for the nurses included medical conditions and dual diagnosis for which legal prescriptions were frequently obtained. Most of the nurses worked in critical care, noted stressful work conditions, and diverted medications from the workplace for their own use. They also listed emotional stresses associated with impaired practice and addiction, primarily isolation, depression, shame, and guilt. They noted a culture of stigma and mistreatment of addicts and alcoholics by many professionals.Positive commonalities included improved nursing practice, such as being more patient, tolerant, and compassionate, as a result of their own recovery work. They learned to utilize social support systems, which led them from isolation and hiding to involvement and disclosure. The nurses identified a pivotal event as being the leverage needed to move them into a lifestyle of recovery.Completers were highly motivated to retain their nursing licenses, and they strongly affiliated with other recovering nurses. In retrospect, they viewed the coercion of the program as having positive benefits. They took a brief amount of time off nursing early in their recovery. Most importantly, they had prepared and developed a relapse prevention plan.Non-completers were considering getting out of nursing or combining nursing with another field of endeavor. They did not feel affiliated with other nurses in recovery. They viewed the coercion of the alternative program as punitive and having no positive value. They felt they were forced out of participation in the program for unsupported reasons. In spite of this, seven of eight of the noncompleters remained in recovery.

show abstract

Section: Personal and Professional Stressorsmentioning

confidence: 96%

CE FEATURE Alternative Diversion Programs for Nurses with Impaired Practice: Completers and Non-Completers

Darbro

2005

Journal of Addictions Nursing

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…It has been suggested that nursing students may be vulnerable because of their being faced with a great deal of stress, inadequate prevention, limited support systems, and a poorly defined coping mechanism (Buckner, 2002). In the study of West (2002) on early risk indicators of substance abuse among nurses, the discussion concludes the importance of teaching risk factors in schools of nursing and the possibility that nurses who learn the risk factors in their education program may make better choices and decisions for themselves based on that awareness.…”

Section: Relevance To Nursing Practicementioning

confidence: 98%

“…There is no accurate count of the incidence of abuse among nursing students; however, evidence that it is a problem within nursing student communities and that part of the problem very likely begins when nurses are students in nursing education programs exist (Buckner, 2002;West, 2002). A survey conducted by Pace (2002) summarized findings from 730 health-care students.…”

Section: Relevance To Nursing Practicementioning

confidence: 98%

Nursing Students' Personal Experiences Involving Alcohol Problems

Murphy-Parker¹,

Martinez²

2005

Archives of Psychiatric Nursing

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

“…Individual level factors such as low self-esteem, depression, self-centeredness, parental drinking, shyness, physical illnesses, dependent personality, and learning problems exacerbate these risks (West 2002). Staff members who know about the substance abuse problem of a co-worker may be reluctant to report that issue because they believe the individual may lose his or her job (Kunyk & Austin 2012).…”

Section: Staffmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It was addressed by the American Nurses' Association starting in the 1980's. They recognized that impaired functioning among nurses from alcohol or drug misuse had the potential to interfere with professional judgment and the delivery of safe and quality care (West 2002).…”

Section: Staffmentioning

confidence: 99%