Substance use disorders among registered nurses: prevalence, risks and perceptions in a disciplinary jurisdiction.
AIM
To investigate substance use disorders, impaired practice and health risks among nurses in a disciplinary jurisdiction.


BACKGROUND
The relationship between substance-related risks to patient safety, nurse health and discipline is understudied.


METHOD
A convenience sample of 4064 registered nurses responded to an Internet survey in 2010. Self-reports were given to psychometrically robust measures of health, substance use disorders and organisational support. Perceptions on the treatment and disposition of impaired nurses were also asked.


RESULTS
The prevalence of substance use disorders was similar to the general population. Most nurses' coded high risk for impaired practices were working, unknown by their employer/regulator and not receiving treatment. When compared with nurse-peers, their health and organisational support were compromised. Nurse-peers viewed impaired nurses as having a treatable illness that their employers/regulators should assist and afford confidentiality.


CONCLUSIONS
In this jurisdiction, discipline was not rated as effective for risk mitigation, supportive of nurses with substance use disorders or in alignment with nurse perceptions.


IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT
Nursing managers play a significant role in addressing substance-related issues among nurses and can be key to influencing the outcomes of these difficult situations. For these reasons, it is important they recognize the ineffectiveness of discipline for substance-related risk mitigation.
['Kunyk|Diane|D|']
D000328:Adult D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel D005260:Female D006801:Humans D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D009726:Nurses D010465:Perception D015995:Prevalence D019966:Substance-Related Disorders
nursing policy risk management substance abuse workforce issues