The characteristics of recovering chemically-dependent Manitoba nurses

Information about potential risk factors and characteristics of chemically-dependent nurses is imperative to the development of primary and secondary prevention strategies. However, little is known about nurses who become dependent on chemicals, especially outside of the United States. In Canada, there is a dearth of studies. The purpose of this descriptive replication study is to provide information about the characteristics of chemically-dependent nurses in Manitoba, Canada, and to determine whether these characteristics are unique to one Canadian province or resemble an international profile. The study utilized an anonymous mailed survey to collect quantitative data from 22 recovering nurses. The majority of characteristics of the Manitoba nurses were similar to those found in American studies, thus adding further support to patterns emerging in the data base.