Substance Abuse Among Nurses: A Case Study

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Leadership and Management Role in Substance Abuse Among Nurses Substance abuse and drug diversion among nurses is a critical public health threat. The ANA postulates that as many as 8% of nurses are providing care to patients while impaired (Tanga, 2011). These are alarming statistics that warrant nurse leader and mangers to take immediate action to combat this issue. Nurses leaders and managers have a responsibility to ensure their patients are receiving safe, high-quality care in their organizations. Nurses who divert drugs or who practice impaired are a danger to the patients and a liability to the health care organization (Tanga, 2011). The ANA has taken a position regarding nursing impairment and defines professional impairment as the inability to upstand the code of ethics because of cognitive, interpersonal, and psychomotor dysfunction because of drug or alcohol use (Tanga, …show more content…
Resolution to the problem of substance abuse and drug diversion is multifaceted, and the first step is recognition that substance abuse and drug diversion is a symptom of a disease and that addiction should be viewed as a medical condition, not a moral failure (Monroe & Kenega, 2008). Staff and managers must receive education in identifying potential behaviors associated with substance abuse among nurses and advocate for an environment that promotes well-being and open communication (Monroe & Kenega, 2008). Leaders and managers must perform a self-examination to identify biases and barriers to successful interventions and treatment for chemically dependent nurses. Organizations must evaluate their patient care environments and implement systems for surveillance, prompt identification, and intervention and to secure points in the facility where diversion may occur with the use of biometrics and automated dispensing systems (Brummond et al.,