Impaired Nursing Practice
Audrey Aziz
Crystal DeBeary
Briah Lynch
Dorian Issac
Coppin State University
The problem of impaired nursing practice has and continues to be a prevalent issue in the nursing world. Impaired nursing can be defined in various ways, however most definitions include that professional judgment is impaired due to the use of drugs or alcohol (or mental illness) and thus interferes with the ability of the health professional to provide quality, safe nursing care (Hutson, 2014). The National Council of State Boards of Nursing estimates that the “prevalence of nurses suffering from addiction to drugs, alcohol, or other forms of substance abuse is 16%” (National Council of State Boards of Nursing, 2010). However, …show more content…
This paper will not only discuss impaired nursing practice and its role in day-to-day practice, but also will specifically address risk factors for substance abuse, reporting an impaired colleague, legal issues, and reentry of a recovering nurse. As a healthcare professional, many turn to nurses, as they are one of the primary caregivers for people struggling with an illness. However, many underestimate or fail to realize that some nurses, too, need support and help in order to deal with personal struggles they may be facing, such as substance abuse. By identifying the risk factors associated with substance abuse and other chemical impairments, one can help prevent long-term consequences for a nurse. These risk factors include access to drugs at the workplace, fatigue and stress …show more content…
(2012). Physicians’ Perceptions, Preparedness for Reporting, and Experiences Related to Impaired and Incompetent Colleagues. Retrieved November 20, 2014, from http://sun025.sun.ac.za/portal/page/portal/Health_Sciences/English/Centres and Institutions/Bioethics1/Undergraduate Teaching/Resources_for_students/12/Physicians Perceptions Preparedness for reporting relate.pdf
Huston, C. (2014). Impaired Nursing Practice. In Professional issues in nursing: Challenges & opportunities (3rd ed.). Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Naegle, M. (2011). Nurses and Matters of Substance. Retrieved November 20, 2014, from http://www.nsna.org/Portals/0/Skins/NSNA/pdf/I
National Council of State Boards of Nursing. (2010). Breaking the habit: When your colleague is chemically dependent. Retrieved on November 18, 2014, from http://www.google.co.in/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CEAQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reshealth.org%2Fpdfs%2Fsubsites%2Faddiction%2Faddressing_chemically_dependent_colleagues.pdf&ei=4OooUKGkMIrRrQeS74HADA&usg=AFQjCNGqfEf2VY7K9l2bF_zgWdYRqwZ7fQ&sig2=vLyboFMIuFuxYc6FjZvIg
Veatch, D. (2011). Recovering Impaired Nurses. Retrieved November 21, 2014, from
Audrey Aziz
Crystal DeBeary
Briah Lynch
Dorian Issac
Coppin State University
The problem of impaired nursing practice has and continues to be a prevalent issue in the nursing world. Impaired nursing can be defined in various ways, however most definitions include that professional judgment is impaired due to the use of drugs or alcohol (or mental illness) and thus interferes with the ability of the health professional to provide quality, safe nursing care (Hutson, 2014). The National Council of State Boards of Nursing estimates that the “prevalence of nurses suffering from addiction to drugs, alcohol, or other forms of substance abuse is 16%” (National Council of State Boards of Nursing, 2010). However, …show more content…
This paper will not only discuss impaired nursing practice and its role in day-to-day practice, but also will specifically address risk factors for substance abuse, reporting an impaired colleague, legal issues, and reentry of a recovering nurse. As a healthcare professional, many turn to nurses, as they are one of the primary caregivers for people struggling with an illness. However, many underestimate or fail to realize that some nurses, too, need support and help in order to deal with personal struggles they may be facing, such as substance abuse. By identifying the risk factors associated with substance abuse and other chemical impairments, one can help prevent long-term consequences for a nurse. These risk factors include access to drugs at the workplace, fatigue and stress …show more content…
(2012). Physicians’ Perceptions, Preparedness for Reporting, and Experiences Related to Impaired and Incompetent Colleagues. Retrieved November 20, 2014, from http://sun025.sun.ac.za/portal/page/portal/Health_Sciences/English/Centres and Institutions/Bioethics1/Undergraduate Teaching/Resources_for_students/12/Physicians Perceptions Preparedness for reporting relate.pdf
Huston, C. (2014). Impaired Nursing Practice. In Professional issues in nursing: Challenges & opportunities (3rd ed.). Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Naegle, M. (2011). Nurses and Matters of Substance. Retrieved November 20, 2014, from http://www.nsna.org/Portals/0/Skins/NSNA/pdf/I
National Council of State Boards of Nursing. (2010). Breaking the habit: When your colleague is chemically dependent. Retrieved on November 18, 2014, from http://www.google.co.in/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CEAQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reshealth.org%2Fpdfs%2Fsubsites%2Faddiction%2Faddressing_chemically_dependent_colleagues.pdf&ei=4OooUKGkMIrRrQeS74HADA&usg=AFQjCNGqfEf2VY7K9l2bF_zgWdYRqwZ7fQ&sig2=vLyboFMIuFuxYc6FjZvIg
Veatch, D. (2011). Recovering Impaired Nurses. Retrieved November 21, 2014, from