Nursing Addiction

A career in nursing can be the most rewarding occupation most people can think of. It truly takes a unique person with a strong sense of discipline, diligence, responsibility, and a love for mankind to take on such a role. While nursing for most is very rewarding, it is also an occupation that can very easily overwhelm employees and requires most of the time more so then none, a great tolerance to stress. For some when the stress becomes overwhelming, It may lead to addiction, especially in the medical profession where prescription drugs are readily on hand. The addicted/under the influence nurse affects many people including their colleagues. Most importantly, under the influence nurses pose a serious risk to their patients. There is a major

It has also been estimated by the American Nurses Association that the rate of drug dependent nurses is also 10 percent (Copp, 2009). This statistic is horrifying but realistic. The decisions that nurses make are at times a matter of life and death, and it is imperative that nurse and healthcare providers are attentive and alert to what they are doing at all times with no exceptions. All the combined stressors that may often come with this profession, along with the other stresses of personal life may lead a person to feel as though they will do what they have to so they can make it. Sadly for some this can lead to disappear and addiction. In the healthcare setting where medication is widely accepted as a cure to ailments and is readily accessible, nurses are at high risk to develop substance issues (Talbert, 2009). Although the incidence of addiction among nurses is about the same as the general population, there is a higher rate of prescription-type medication abuse as opposed to street drugs. Nurses may administer medications on a daily basis, thus may feel more comfortable self-medicating. There is also a higher risk for drug issues to develop among specific nursing specialties including psychiatry, oncology and anesthesiology. This may be due the stresses and emotional hardships nurses in these fields face. They also have access to

If a nurse is providing care while under the influence they are failing to fulfill this role. There is also a legal and moral responsibility of all nurses to report suspicions of abuse because the number one role of the nurse when dealing with an impaired colleague is to protect the patient (DeClerk, 2008). There may not be many signs or symptoms in the beginning, however as it progresses, it becomes more clear that something may not be right. When a nurse cannot perform the basic essential of their job functions due to chemical dependency, they can be defined as impaired (Talbert, 2009). Because it is such a controversial topic, substance abuse among nurses is a taboo subject, which makes this issue under-reported and under-mentioned in the nursing field (Monroe & Kenaga, 2010). According to the DEA, nurses tend to avoid getting involved with co-workers who they may suspect have a substance issue. There is also a stigma associated with potentially being labeled as a “whistleblower”. When relationships develop in the workplace, nurses may be less likely to report this type of abuse, however it is also the role of the registered nurse to ensure patients are receiving safe care, and in the case of substance abuse this means reporting (Talbert, 2009). There is a very low incidence of self-reporting, because there is a great sense of guilt