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Nurses referred to a peer assistance program for alcohol and drug problems
L Finke1, J Williams, R Stanley
1Indiana University School of Nursing, Indianapolis 46202, USA.
Archives of Psychiatric Nursing
|October 1, 1996
Summary
Nurses in peer assistance programs frequently misused narcotics and diverted drugs. However, the program proved effective, with 64% of nurses successfully completing it, aiding substance abuse recovery in nursing.
Area of Science:
- Nursing
- Addiction Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- Substance abuse among nurses poses risks to patient safety and the profession.
- Peer assistance programs are crucial for supporting nurses with substance use disorders.
- Understanding referral patterns and program effectiveness is vital for prevention and intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize nurses referred to a peer assistance program regarding demographics, substance use, and participation.
- To identify factors influencing program completion for nurses in peer assistance.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of a state nursing organization's peer assistance model for substance abuse.
Main Methods:
- Descriptive analysis of 221 nurses referred to a state nursing peer assistance program.
- Assessment of substance use patterns, including drug diversion.
- Identification of variables associated with successful program completion.
Main Results:
- Narcotics were the most commonly used substances (63%).
- 36% of nurses admitted to diverting patient medications for personal use.
- 64% of referred nurses successfully completed the peer assistance program.
Conclusions:
- The peer assistance program model is effective in addressing substance abuse within the nursing profession.
- Characterizing referred nurses provides insights for targeted prevention and intervention strategies.
- Successful program completion rates suggest a viable pathway for nurse recovery and retention.