Controlled drug misuse by Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists

The primary purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of controlled drug misuse among actively practicing Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs). A second purpose was to determine variance in controlled drug misuse by the variables of age, sex, population and geographic area of residence, type of anesthesia position currently held, and number of years in anesthesia practice. The research data were obtained through self-administered surveys mailed to 2,500 actively practicing CRNAs throughout the United States. With a response rate of 68.4% (1,709 of 2,500), the survey instrument allowed for stratification according to admitted misuse of controlled drugs commonly used in the clinical practice of anesthesia. The established prevalence of controlled drug misuse in the target population was found to be 9.8% of the sample (167 of 1,709 respondents), with the majority indicating a distinct proclivity for polydrug misuse. The survey results were comparable with those of studies involving anesthesiologists and registered nurses with the notable exception of the preferred drugs for misuse. A strong relationship existed between sex, number of years in clinical anesthesia practice, and the likelihood for controlled drug misuse, thus indicating a potential predictor of which CRNAs may misuse controlled drugs. In addition, a significant relationship existed between recency of controlled drug misuse and drug(s) of choice (P = .05). Recommendations include specific tactics for strengthening drug misuse education and prevention. Also, modifications in research design and additional studies in the research area are suggested.