title: A study of drug and alcohol use among Missouri RNs.
abstract: 1. Previous research in the area of chemical dependency among nurses reveals that chemical dependency often is associated with physical or emotional pain, that these nurses are likely to have a family member who is chemically dependent, and that the drugs of choice are alcohol and meperidine. 2. Findings from this study reveal that chemically dependent nurses have experimented with a variety of drugs, have used prescription medication for chronic or emotional pain, and began their drug use at an early age. 3. The nurses in this study took patient medication for their own use, used drugs while at work, and experienced memory loss or blackouts at work. These findings provide implications for nursing, especially related to quality and safety of patient care.
authors.affiliation: Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau 63701, USA.
authors.forename: L W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Bugle
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008923:Missouri / Q000453:epidemiology; D009726:Nurses / Q000523:psychology; D011363:Professional Impairment; D012307:Risk Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires