title: Substance use disorders among registered nurses: prevalence, risks and perceptions in a disciplinary jurisdiction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate substance use disorders, impaired practice and health risks among nurses in a disciplinary jurisdiction.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The relationship between substance-related risks to patient safety, nurse health and discipline is understudied.
  
  
  METHODS
  A convenience sample of 4064 registered nurses responded to an Internet survey in 2010. Self-reports were given to psychometrically robust measures of health, substance use disorders and organisational support. Perceptions on the treatment and disposition of impaired nurses were also asked.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of substance use disorders was similar to the general population. Most nurses' coded high risk for impaired practices were working, unknown by their employer/regulator and not receiving treatment. When compared with nurse-peers, their health and organisational support were compromised. Nurse-peers viewed impaired nurses as having a treatable illness that their employers/regulators should assist and afford confidentiality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this jurisdiction, discipline was not rated as effective for risk mitigation, supportive of nurses with substance use disorders or in alignment with nurse perceptions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nursing managers play a significant role in addressing substance-related issues among nurses and can be key to influencing the outcomes of these difficult situations. For these reasons, it is important they recognize the ineffectiveness of discipline for substance-related risk mitigation.
authors: Faculty of Nursing, John Dossetor Health Ethics Centre, Centre for Effective Business Management of Addiction Treatment, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors: Diane
authors: D
authors: Kunyk
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009726:Nurses / Q000523:psychology*; D010465:Perception; D015995:Prevalence; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: nursing; policy; risk management; substance abuse; workforce issues