title: Chemical impairment in colleagues: perceptions of Western New York nurses.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine nurses' perceptions about substance abuse in professional colleagues, opinions about strategies for dealing with substance abuse, and knowledge about resources available for dealing with the problem of chemical impairment. Subjects included a convenience sample of 161 nurses from Western New York. Data were gathered by a questionnaire that included "The Perceptions of Nursing Impairment Inventory" and items regarding respondents' background characteristics, suspicions about alcohol and drug abuse in nurse colleagues, and knowledge about and use of peer assistance services available through District I of the New York State Nurses Association. The major outcome of the study was identification of a knowledge deficit on the extent of the substance abuse problem in nursing, ability to recognize an impaired colleague, and awareness of services available. These data substantiate the need for implementing educational programs to increase nurses' basic knowledge of, and sensitivity to, the problem of chemical dependency.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Hyman
authors.forename: B P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Haughey
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Dittmar
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Cookman
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McKaig
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Crosby
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D009518:New York; D009740:Nursing Staff; D011363:Professional Impairment; D012941:Social Responsibility; D012944:Social Support; D012956:Societies, Nursing; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires