Model Guidelines for Alternative Programs and Discipline Monitoring Programs

A critical review of knowledge on nurses with problematic substance use: The need to move from individual blame to awareness of structural factors

“…This situation is further compounded by the reality that when nurses complete treatment, their coworkers will become aware of this situation because of the policy restrictions on their access to common drugs of abuse during the graduated return to work process (College of Registered Nurses of Nova Scotia [CRNNS], ). Not surprisingly, less than 10% of nurses with PSU ever obtain treatment (Darbro, ).…”

“…Evidence demonstrates that peer support is an important structural factor that mitigates the effects of stress, improves the general well‐being of nurses recovering from PSU, and contributes to their positive treatment outcomes (Bowen, Taylor, Marcus‐Aiyeku, & Krause‐Parello, ; Darbro, ; Monroe et al., ). The literature also supports the effectiveness of structural interventions targeting peer support in positively shifting this structural influence.…”

“…Quality nursing care and public safety may be jeopardized, as a substantial number of nurses who do self‐identify as having PSU report that they are actively practicing (Bell, McDonough, Ellison, & Fitzhugh, ; Kunyk, ; Monroe, Kenaga, Dietrich, Carter, & Cowan, ). Current, in‐depth knowledge of this problem is necessary for the creation of effective prevention strategies, treatment programs, and regulatory policies (Darbro, ; Kunyk & Austin, ). Despite the importance of this complex, multifactorial issue, nurses with PSU remains a largely underresearched and poorly understood area of study.…”

Substance use disorders among registered nurses: prevalence, risks and perceptions in a disciplinary jurisdiction

“…These focus on early detection, treatment provision, return‐to‐work, compliance monitoring and relapse detection. Nurses are moved into treatment within hours or days of identification (Haack & Yocom , Darbro , Monroe et al . ).…”

The business of managing nurses’ substance‐use problems

“…Our literature review did not yield any Canadian regulatory bodies’ guidelines or standards for ATD treatment programs, and guidelines from the NCSBN (), the lead professional nursing regulatory body in the United States, seem to dominate approaches to ATD programs in North America (Darbro, ; Smith et al, ). Yet, we could not locate evidence of any comprehensive evaluations of this regime, and even the NCSBN itself noted no ‘verified best practice standards’ (NCSBN, , p. 20) have been established for these programs.…”