...Running head: SUBSTANCE ABUSE IN NURSING Substance Abuse in Nursing Erika O. Substance Abuse in Nursing The purpose of this paper is to discuss the problem of nurses impaired by substance abuse and to explore actions that are being taken to either prevent or correct the problem once it has occurred. My reasons for choosing this topic is that I will soon be entering the nursing field and the likely hood of me working with an impaired or addicted nurse appears to be very likely; the more I know on the subject the better prepared I will be to handle the situation. It has been estimated that roughly 10% of the nursing population has alcohol or drug abuse problems furthermore 6% has an addiction serious enough to interfere with their ability to practice (Talbert, 2009). The American Nurses Association (ANA) estimated that 6%--8% of nurses use alcohol or drugs to the extent that professional judgment is impaired. Impaired nursing is defined as a nurse's inability to perform essential job functions because of chemical dependency on drugs or alcohol or mental illness (Blair, 2002). This is of particular relevance because substance abuse among nurses is an issue that threatens the delivery of quality care and professional standards of nursing, “many nurses are not identified as having a problem until patient safety has been compromised” (Talbert, 2009). A. Introduction-5 points State the purpose of your paper and your reason for choosing your topic...
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...Substance Abuse and Addiction in Nursing Drexel University Substance Abuse and Addiction in Nursing There was a time when substance abuse (SA) in nursing was unheard of; however, it was always there. The reality was that it was merely disregarded. How could any type of addiction or SA in nursing be disregarded? It is difficult to speculate why our culture overlooked this, but one explanation is associated with the Gallop Poll which reports nursing as the most trusted and ethical profession in the United States (US) (Cherry & Jacob, 2014). Therefore; how can the most trusted and ethical profession coexist with SA, addiction, or an impaired nurse? Townsend defines an individual with a substance abuse disorder as a person who fails at several attempts to control or stop a substance that interferes with that individual’s ability to perform daily functions such as obligations at home, school, or work (Townsend, 2014). It is this impaired ability that endangers patients, coworkers, the organization’s reputation, the nursing profession as a whole, and ultimately themselves. Drug and alcohol abuse is a serious issue that has reached epidemic proportions in the general population (Taylor, Lillis, LeMone, & Lynn, Walters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins). It is now believed that the incidence of drug and alcohol abuse in the nursing profession parallels the proportions of the general public (Valdes, 2014). Therefore; ignoring this issue is no longer...
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...Family Nursing Diagnosis and Assessment September 3, 2012 University of Phoenix Nursing 405 Ginger Witherington After spending time with my family and assessing their daily activities it is very apparent that they all need help coping and finding a solution to the growing problem within their home. By using the Friedman Family Assessment as a guideline to identify the structural framework of this particular family, nursing diagnosis and interventions can be drawn as a guide to help with the healing process of their family. According to Healthy People 2020, one particular goal is the “Reduce substance abuse to protect the health, safety, and quality of life for all, especially children”. (Healthy People, 2020). Alcohol and drug abuse is a pattern that is accompanied by failure to fulfill responsibilities such as work and family and can have harmful personal, physical and emotional consequences that lead to the downfall of family. The population that I believe most effected by substance abuse in the family is the children. When there is long term abuse, complications that arise are violence, domestic abuse and fatal accidents such as overdose or the results of drinking and driving. From the nursing standpoint there are several interventions and strategies that can be instrumental in helping a family in crisis. Giving necessary support, providing educational resources and counseling resources are just three small areas that are important for the nurse to provide...
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...Substance Abuse in Nursing The purpose of this paper is to discuss the problem of nurses impaired by substance abuse and to explore actions that are being taken to either prevent or correct the problem once it has occurred. My reasons for choosing this topic is that I will soon be entering the nursing field and the likely hood of me working with an impaired or addicted nurse appears to be very likely; the more I know on the subject the better prepared I will be to handle the situation. It has been estimated that roughly 10% of the nursing population has alcohol or drug abuse problems furthermore 6% has an addiction serious enough to interfere with their ability to practice (Talbert, 2009). The American Nurses Association (ANA) estimated that 6%--8% of nurses use alcohol or drugs to the extent that professional judgment is impaired. Impaired nursing is defined as a nurse's inability to perform essential job functions because of chemical dependency on drugs or alcohol or mental illness (Blair, 2002). This is of particular relevance because substance abuse among nurses is an issue that threatens the delivery of quality care and professional standards of nursing, “many nurses are not identified as having a problem until patient safety has been compromised” (Talbert, 2009). A. Introduction-5 points State the purpose of your paper and your reason for choosing your topic. B. Definition of Topic-10 points Begin with a definition of the issue, followed by identification of...
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...Substance abuse among Nurses: Impact on Nurses and their patients Anam Afaq Nursing 110-E Dr. Millenbach Drug and alcohol abuse is a serious health and social problem in the United States. Many people in the general population are unaware of how widespread drug addiction has become. Even fewer are aware of the number of healthcare professionals such as nurses that misuse drug and alcohol. The number of substance abuse nurses is believed to parallel the drug abuse in a general population (Talbert, 2009). Substance abuse among nurses is a problem that not only threatens the delivery of quality care to patients but also the impacts the professional standards of nursing. The healthcare profession is one of the most important professions in the world and nurses are the most trusted professionals in the world. According to the American Nurses Association (ANA), “Nursing is the protection, promotion, and optimization of health and abilities, prevention of illness and injury, alleviation of suffering through the diagnosis and treatment of human response, and advocacy in the care of individuals, families, communities, and populations.” When I read this definition, the words “protection”, “prevention” and “advocacy” stand out to me the most. The registered nurses are the premier advocates for safety and quality of patient care and health and safety of other health care professionals and co-workers. How will the nurses that have problems with substance abuse continue to protect...
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...("Cultural Competence", 2014). Organizations must have the capacity to value diversity, conduct self-assessment, manage the dynamics of difference, institutionalize cultural knowledge and adapt to the diversity and the cultural context of the communities they serve. The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) stated that inequities in service delivery and care in the health care system are associated with discrimination, and a lack of culturally competent practices, including a lack of cultural awareness and sensitivity by health care providers (Upsher, n.d). Substance abuse is defined as a chronic, relapsing brain disease that is characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use, despite harmful consequences ("The Science Of Drug Abuse And Addiction: The Basics", 2014). This paper will discuss and define the appropriateness of competent care in Substance abuse care and identify the populations served and issues of population vulnerability. In addition, exploration of standards of cultural competence with substance abuse, the delivery of nursing care and potential impact, and the resolutions of implementation of standards that did not met expectations. Substance abuse has negative consequences for both the addict as well...
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...the implications of the Garling Report (2008), it enables to recognise problems related with health care system and to have better understandings and abilities to effectively deal with the problems. Accordingly, there are also significant issues affecting mental health, which should be investigated. The major findings and recommendations of the Garling Report will be overviewed and also the nursing and workforce issues will be explored. Furthermore, drug and alcohol abuse and lack of resources will be explored and recommendation for a new Registered Nurse will be drawn. Garling Report (2008) indicates that New South Wales (NSW) public hospitals have one of the better health care systems in the developed world, because they have well-trained, skilled and dedicated doctors, nurses and clinical staffs. On the other hand, NSW health care systems are too often unable to cope with the increasing cost of treatment, sudden increase in patients, and the pressures on a skilled workforce (Garling Report, 2008). Notably, there is a serious shortage of workforce including medical, nursing, and allied health professionals (Garling Report, 2008). Furthermore, there are insufficient experienced clinical staffs who can supervise and guide inexperienced clinical staffs, and in this environment, it makes difficult to provide safety of the patient and the quality of patient care (Garling Report, 2008). Especially, a skilled workforce is significantly insufficient in rural/remote areas...
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...estimated infants affected by prenatal alcohol or illicit drug exposure each year according to the National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare. That is between ten and eleven percent of all births and frankly that number is way too high. Major maternal substances of abuse that affect newborns are amphetamines, opiates, cocaine, tobacco and alcohol. These substances can have severe adverse neonatal and long term effects. What is to blame for this extremely elevated statistic? Well, illicit drug use by a mother-to-be or even the use of legal substances such as alcohol or tobacco coincides with several other influences that can also impact a child’s life. Examples include lack of prenatal care, socioeconomic status, role of the father, support systems, and the caregiving ability of the mother, all of which play enormous roles in child development and maternal drug use. Almost all drugs of abuse follow a similar mechanism of action in the adult brain; this mechanism alters the pathways for reward by flooding the circuits with dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that exists in areas of the brain that power movement, motivation, emotion, and feelings of pleasure. The overstimulation of this system produces euphoric effects in response to the drugs. This reaction initiates the cycle that tells people to keep abusing drugs. As a person continues to abuse drugs, the brain adapts to the waves of dopamine by making less dopamine or reducing the amount of dopamine receptors...
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...Assessment of Alcoholic living in a Family Individuals addicted to alcohol are threatened with increased risk of health problems, including liver cirrhosis, cardiovascular diseases, and fetal abnormalities. Additionally, substance abuse can lead to automobile collisions, violence, and injuries. Alcohol can influence worker’s productivity, family problems, or school performance. According to Alcohol Research and Health (2000), “the United States and other countries have expended considerable effort throughout this century to develop and refine effective strategies to limit the negative impact of alcohol” (p. 5). The epidemiological research has also revealed positive correlation between substance abuse and coronary heart disease. The influence on physical health is evident, but there are many other social factors that pose risks to the surrounding communities and families (Alcohol Research and Health, 2000). What is more important is that it creates significant problems within the family in terms lack of understanding and communication. Heavy drinking and substance abuse is a tangible risk factor creating serious consequences for health and, therefore, it is also the main contributor to the global disease expansion. Indeed, alcohol can become the leading cause for over 30 health-related risks and factors. Such risks as disability, disease, and mortality are also among the major problems which are treated by the World Health Organization because of the detrimental influence...
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...Confidentiality/Privacy Issues This article presents a case study highlighting the conflict between an individual’s right to privacy and the rights of patients and staff to know when a professional standard has been breached. The process by which the administrator determines a course of action is reviewed in the context of workplace realities through an ethical analysis. The growth of information systems and the increased involvement of third parties in decision-making have created new issues regarding confidentiality and the release of sensitive information for health care personnel who are in a position of public trust. The issues facing nursing administrators are complex, and of particular concern are the conflicting demands of providing quality care with limited resources. The authors identify strategies to deal with the workplace issues that give rise to the potential for abuse as well as the strategies to support an impaired colleague who attempts to reenter the workforce (Badzek, Mitchell, Marra, & Bower, 1998). Introduction When asking the general public what health care ethics and health care privacy mean, most will relate that they are about protecting patients. Health care ethics and health care privacy do exist to protect patients and to ensure that care is delivered with moral and ethical standards. Health care ethics not only apply to patients, but to organizations as well. The rapidly changing world of health care is witnessing a growing need for institutional ethics that includes...
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...environmental conditions play a key role (Harkness & DeMarco, 2012, p. 68). In this public health care nurse case study, a young female suffers from malnourishment, substance abuse, economic duress, and poor living conditions. Emotionally, she is in distress and is now seeking assistance. Additionally, I am assuming that she might be homeless and lacking family support. Questions to Consider when Interviewing the Client While interviewing the client, I would ask myself which public/social services might best fit this young female’s needs. I would also mentally start addressing her sexual habits and considering when she last had a full physical assessment with laboratory tests and was checked for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). I would also be concerned about her psychological condition and if she suffers from any mental illness. Additionally, I would reflect on how to establish a safe environment for the patient. How to Assist the Client during Planning Identifying the stage of prevention is required to help a person in need. This female needs a secondary prevention. This measure identifies, plans around, and reduces the impact of a current disease (Harkness & DeMarco, 2012, p. 90). As a public health nurse, during planning I can assist the client in making the decisions to cease substance abuse and to seek permanent housing. I can also help her access Social Services and assist her with obtaining the appropriate medical care. I can encourage her to complete...
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...drug abuse is “disproportionately associated with poverty, increased family stress, and neighborhoods plagued by instability, decay, and crime” (Schroeder & Fals-Stewart, 2006, p. 10). However, drug abuse tends to affect people of all socioeconomic status, race, age, and gender. The economic effect of substance abuse is estimated at $414 billion in 2001, and $109.9 billion is drug use (Schneider Institute, 2001). Drug abuse affects the drug user, the family, the job, and the very life of the abuser. The negative effect of drug abuse on family members is serious enough that there are many support groups available to family members of drug addicts. Support groups help family members better understand the drug user and equips the family with the tools necessary to emotionally and financially deal with the drug user. Effects of Drug Abuse on Families Substance Abuse: The Nation’s Number One Health Problem Schneider Institute for Health Policy Children of substance abusers are more negatively affected than the parents of children who abuse drugs. Drug abusing parents face legal consequences, including imprisonment, divorce, and their children removed from the family household. Parents who abuse illegal drugs are 59% more likely than non-abusers to have psychiatric disorders such as anxiety, antisocial personality disorders, and depression (SAMHSA, 1999). This shows a clear link between psychiatric disorders and substance abuse. Parents with substance abuse, both...
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... and legal substitutes will replace prescription medications and random urine tests and pill counts make patients guilty until proven innocent. The goal of this piece of legislation is to address the prescription drug abuse problem by limiting the availability of certain controlled substances through increased regulation and oversight. In order to uphold this Bill many people will have to give up their basic rights so that Kentucky Law Enforcement can crack down on any suspicious activity within the Commonwealth of Kentucky. One of the most important rights we have as Americans is our right to doctor patient confidentiality. The doctor patient confidentiality agreement was set in place so doctors could treat their patients as they see fit. Kentucky State Legislators do not believe that doctors are doing everything in their power to help stem the drug problem that has been killing people here for over 20 years. So their answer was KASPER, “Kentucky All Schedule Prescription Electronic Reporting” system. This system was designed to track prescribed controlled substances and doctor visits. For example, if you were to feel extreme back pain you would go to your doctor, and he/she would write up a prescription and have you sign a contract saying you would not abuse or sell the prescription. The doctor then would send all of your medical information into this system. You would then go to your pharmacy and drop off your prescription, the pharmacy would check your information through...
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...Administrative Ethic Paper Maria Garza HCS/335 February 4, 2013 Gail Garren The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) were signed into law by President Bill Clinton in August 1996. (Physicians Billing Associates International, 2006). Bill Clinton decided to sign this law to protect the right and privacy of the patients. Before 1996 there were many issues that has rise the concerning of patient privacy. The HIPPA Act includes “Health insurance portability, fraud and abuse control, tax related provision, group health plan requirements, revenue offset provision, and administrative simplification requirements (Physicians Billing Associates International, 2006). The article that I had read was about a woman who was a nurse and started to use the narcotic from the patient and it was also between an individual’s right to privacy. It shows the process of which the administrator determines a course of action is reviewed but his context of workplace realities through an ethical analysis. This article was about a woman named Jackie that was a nurse and she was overwhelmed with her job. She tried talking to her husband but was convinced to continue working because who pay check was making their saving grow extremely large. To make her husband happy she continues to work as a nurse. She was working in different units that she started to use the narcotic that were prescribing to the patient that she was caring for. She started to take the patient pain medications...
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...pursue habits that cause them certain or a definite harm, this harm maybe caused to their individual self or those around them, and yet they continue to pursue it. The answer to why may not be given clearly even by these people themselves. Most of the smokers, substance abusers and alcoholics, as well as drug addicts are well aware of the negative effects that they may be dragging themselves towards but are not able to change their habits, for their addiction is too great and their self-control too weak. For most people, pain is nothing but a nuisance, but for many others pain is what controls their lives. Pain however is a feeling that brings us discomfort and puts us through feelings that are at times almost imaginable; and we all can relate to different kinds of pains that we as human beings have gone through. Pain is a feeling that can lead to quite a few side effects in life, if not dealt with in a proper way; these side effects may include several different forms of pain such as anxiety, depression hence pushing the individual towards an incredible amount of stress (Abuse, 2010). Drug addiction and drug abuse has been a commonly, widespread global problem and refers to the excessive consumption of any substance that may cause addiction, this consumption reaches such a level that the person falls into an addiction and is largely in an attempt to get away from physical pain that may be caused by some injury or some disease. The consumption of drugs to such an extent that...
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