Misuse and abuse of legal and illegal substances has existed for many centuries. No individual is immune to the myriad of risk factors that can lead to this addictive behavior. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) reports that addiction is a chronic disease of the brain that compels an individual to continue drug seeking behaviors even when they are aware of the detrimental consequences to their health(NIDA, 2012, para 3).
The use and abuse of alcohol and drugs continues to reach epidemic proportions in the general population across the country. Many occupations and professions struggle with addictive behaviors. About 1 out of every 10 nurses may have a substance abuse problem or be a recovering addict ("Impaired nurse: Would you know what to do”, 2011). Many factors contribute to this abuse.
Nursing continues to be one of the most rewarding careers for individuals across the nation, but it does not come without its struggles. Twelve hour shifts with mandatory overtime, heavy workloads, and increase acuity of patients can lead to a feeling of overwhelming stress. If the nurse continues to have stressful situations on a regular basis and …show more content…
As nurses, if our interrelationship skills have not been developed adequately, conflicts that can exist in the workplace may contribute to our uneasiness to confront uncomfortable situations. Inter-twined with society’s view of drug addiction and a history of poor treatment towards peers, nursing must first find a way to dispel the stigma attached to substance abuse in the workplace and the profession as a
The use and abuse of alcohol and drugs continues to reach epidemic proportions in the general population across the country. Many occupations and professions struggle with addictive behaviors. About 1 out of every 10 nurses may have a substance abuse problem or be a recovering addict ("Impaired nurse: Would you know what to do”, 2011). Many factors contribute to this abuse.
Nursing continues to be one of the most rewarding careers for individuals across the nation, but it does not come without its struggles. Twelve hour shifts with mandatory overtime, heavy workloads, and increase acuity of patients can lead to a feeling of overwhelming stress. If the nurse continues to have stressful situations on a regular basis and …show more content…
As nurses, if our interrelationship skills have not been developed adequately, conflicts that can exist in the workplace may contribute to our uneasiness to confront uncomfortable situations. Inter-twined with society’s view of drug addiction and a history of poor treatment towards peers, nursing must first find a way to dispel the stigma attached to substance abuse in the workplace and the profession as a