| Description |
The purpose of this research was to describe and explore the characteristics and patterns of substance use, abuse, experiences and consequences of addictive illness of a sample of substance-dependent nurses through personal indepth interviews. Experiences with substance abuse were examined within the context of the nurses' personal and professional lives. The overall concern was: What does the nursing profession need to know and understand about this complex problem among nurses to plan effective education, prevention, and intervention approaches? Twenty-one nurses who live in Utah and Colorado participated in indepth tape-recorded interviews with the researcher. This research has identified baseline information useful for future research on a relatively unexplored phenomenon. Quantitative data described the substance dependent nurses' background and characteristics and consequences of their addition. Qualitative analysis described the circumstances and experiences of nurses in the four evolutionary phases of the addiction process: Beginning phase, Addictive phase, Out of Control phase, and Recovery. Although various patterns were described in each phase, a notable finding was that nearly half of these participants were experiencing problems with substance abuse while they were nursing students, and all had serious problems while they were employed as registered nurses. Their lack of knowledge about substance abuse, distorted self-perceptions, negative attitudes and problems with personal and professional relationships were significant barriers to their recognizing their problem and seeking help. Prior to their recovery, they sought help several times, both for the addition and for medical complication or systems of their substance abuse and addiction. Their lack of success in earlier attempts to seek help was described as the failure of nurse participants and health professionals to identify and address the substance abuse in treatment. Consequences to substance abuse were described as the potential for suicide, hospitalizations, dual addiction, and professional employment and licensure sanctions. Recovery was achieved only after nurses reached a late stage in the addiction process which was described a being out of control. Once they accepted their need for help, they sought help from a variety of treatment modalities and had attained their current level of sobriety. They perceived support groups like AA and peer support as a valuable adjunct to their recovery and continued sobriety. They recommended that peer support groups assist addicted nurses with legal, practice, ethical, and support issues, and prevention, education and intervention strategies. |
