A Retrospective Descriptive Study of Nurses With Substance Use Disorders in Texas

Abstract

There are approximately 3.1 million nurses in the Unites States (U.S. Census Bureau, 2016), and approximately 8% of them experience substance use disorders (Kunyk, 2015). Nurses with impaired practice are referred to peer assistance programs as they seek rehabilitation. As of 2016, 348 nurses in Texas Peer Assistance Program for Nurses were actively participating in the program for substance-abuse-related offenses. Over the last 6 years (2010Y2016), 1,553 nurses were referred to Texas Peer Assistance Program for Nurses specifically for substanceabuse-related problems. These represent 2% of the population of nurses in Texas. The average age of participants was 40.1 years. Women represented 75% of participants, and 76% were registered nurses. About 41% successfully completed the program without relapsing, and 32% reported at least one relapse. Varieties of drugs were abused including prescription drugs and illegal drugs. Opioids were the most frequently abused class of drugs, followed by alcohol and stimulants. Most nurses obtained their drugs by diverting from patients. Contrary to what is in the literature, nurses working in long-term care, medicalYsurgical units, and home health care had the highest prevalence of impaired practice. Psychiatric comorbidity was not significantly associated with relapse, but self-report status was significantly associated with gender, age category, license type, relapse, and drug of choice. There was a significant inverse relationship between time it takes to enroll and number of abstinent days. Men were also more likely to be employed while in the program.

Nurses’ substance use disorder in disciplinary procedures: A retrospective document analysis

“…However, in our study, the most common working specialties of RNs with SUD were older care and nursing homes, where notifications for inappropriate behaviour were given. These specialty areas have been found to have an increased prevalence of SUD among nurses (Mumba & Kraemer, 2019). Vulnerable patients and a lack of close supervision of daily work may make it difficult for nurse peers and nurse leaders to monitor and identify signs of SUD as well as address it at an early stage.…”

“…The prevalence of SUD has been estimated to range from 5%–20% among the nursing population (Mumba & Kraemer, 2019). Nurses’ SUD has been reported to occur at the same level as the general population (Kunyk, 2015).…”

Destigmatizing alcohol use disorder among nurses

“…Alcohol addiction falls under the umbrella of SUD, rather than as a separate (and, thus, quantifiable) disease, which can be diagnosed using the DSM-5 criteria. 5 , 9 , 10 …”

The Impaired Nurse

“…Nurses younger than age 45 reported using illicit drugs at twice the rate of their older counterparts (8.2% versus 4.2%, P = 0.007) and were significantly more likely to use alcohol and nicotine. 22 The primary substances found to be used by nurses in a retrospective descriptive study of Texas nurses with SUDs were as follows 23…”

“…The primary substances found to be used by nurses in a retrospective descriptive study of Texas nurses with SUDs were as follows23:…”