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| No. 11 | 
Mar 22, 2009, 08:50 AM
 Re: nursing alcoholism & codependency
Your right edmurse77, but, knowledge about the problem, its causes and its effects, early recognition along with sincere, nonjudgmental, and ongoing advice is one means to try to at least reduce the problem and to help those who can't (initially) help themselves.
In my experience working in addiction, chemically dependent people can spot BS a mile away and respond to sincerity.
 | | No. 12 |
Mar 22, 2009, 08:57 AM
Updated
Mar 22, 2009 at 08:59 AM by travel50
Re: nursing alcoholism & codependency
My ADON at work is on a state peer assistance program for a drug addiction. I am the DON. She is one of the best people I have ever met. She was so ashamed that she had given up nursing and was on the verge of giving up her license. A friend of mine knew her and had her come see me...I needed an ADON. I hired her on the spot. She kept telling me that I didn't understand how bad she was. I didn't think she was bad, but could tell she thought it. Short of it is, I could not have a better friend and a better employee. She now goes to the schools here talking to students about what happened to her. She had major surgery a couple of yrs ago, then had terrible complications afterwards. Was in the hosp for 2 wks on IV dilaudid. She had no idea she was addicted...until after she got home and felt like bugs were crawling all over her. It was driving her crazy. At the time she didn't know what it was. She thought she was losing her mind. She'd go to the ER for help, and they'd give her more IV pain meds. She was an ER nurse. One day a patient came in with her same symptoms. She thought OMG!!! I am addicted, that is my problem. She left work then and went straight to rehab for help. Sometimes very, very good people get into trouble. I cannot tell you how good it makes me feel to watch her regain her confidence and her strength. Had she given up it would have been a terrible loss to nursing.
| | No. 13 |
Mar 22, 2009, 11:05 AM
Re: nursing alcoholism & codependency
These are great posts!
I am actually reading "Codependent No More" right now! It's a great read for anyone that has grown up around any kind of dysfunctionality
| | No. 14 |
Mar 22, 2009, 11:54 AM
Re: nursing alcoholism & codependency
Personally, I think that anyone who puts up with the stuff that we do and keep going back for more almost have to have something wrong with them. If someone was in a relationship where they were getting verbally abused, threatened, physically intimidated, ridiculed, and put down on an ongoing basis, everyone in their right mind would ask why stay in that relationship? But there's just something about nursing that keeps us going back over and over again.
All I've been able to figure out for myself is that I enjoy helping others when they'll let me, and being there for people when they need me. Maybe that falls under the co-dependent category. But it means that in general I get a lot of satisfaction from my career, I'm able to keep going back, and it allows me to support my family. So I'm fine with having that particular defect or whatever you want to call it.
There are days when I threaten jokingly to my husband or close friends that as soon as I get home, I'm gonna hit the bottle or smoke a bowl. I never seem to get around to it though...but I think that when you combine the horrible stresses that we're subjected to with a predisposition to certain activities, it can be a recipe for potential disaster.
I'm screwed genetically as far as alcoholism goes...all four of my biological grandparents were alcoholics (my mom's parents would go through a case of beer a day each, they were both dead by 65). But it's rare that I drink, maybe just because I know that there's that history in my family. I do have the occasional glass of wine while I'm taking a bubble bath, but between the kids and work, I just don't have the time to drink. If I was single, without a strong support system of family and friends in place, who knows?
| | No. 15 |
Mar 22, 2009, 09:35 PM
Re: nursing alcoholism & codependency Originally Posted by Dalzac  Melody Beattie wrote a book called Codependant No More. there is a chapter that talks about nurses being at risk just because of the nature of codependantcy. I think there are 3 occupations that have such high risk, Cops, firefighters and nurses.
IMHO if the nurse doesn't have a drinking or drug problem then someone close to them does. Caretaking comes from taking care of others from a very early age of taking care of drunks and addicts.
I agree. Nurses are drawn to people that need their help. It makes them feel fulfilled and we are comfortable in this role, however, we can and do learn from our mistakes. I personally could never be in another relationship with an alcoholic/drug addict and I have very little patience/sympathy for them in general. I think they are weak. However, when I was younger it was very much my pattern to get involved with losers that took advantage of my caring/helping nature. I was an enabler/ coedependent, whatever you want to call it. Now I am totally different. I see many of my coworkers in abusive relationships though with or without involving drugs and Etoh. We just have this martyr mentality. Thats why I love that quote by Florence Nightengale, the one about martyrs just making the selfish more selfish and the lazy lazier and the greedy greedier. It is so true.
I have often thought that this might be the result of the values we were brought up with. Many nurses that I work with and have known are Catholic or at least were brought up Catholic. Which, as anyone who is Catholic knows, they are big on the whole serving others idea and self sacrifice, kindness and yada yada. I think this might have something to do with the way we are.
| | No. 16 |
Mar 25, 2009, 03:00 AM
Re: nursing alcoholism & codependency Your right edmurse77, but, knowledge about the problem, its causes and its effects, early recognition along with sincere, nonjudgmental, and ongoing advice is one means to try to at least reduce the problem and to help those who can't (initially) help themselves.
I did mention a little something about educating those around you. Not driven just to close contacts and family! I am an ER Nurse and try to educate everyone. I don't mind it or look down on anyone that choses to do it! A few of the factors bother me sure. My family drives on the same road as "this guy". All I was saying that congress changing laws and Blah blah blah. None of it matters. I am not a believer in AA or NA, but I do however like many of their ideas. You can not help the unwilling and you can't help anyone who doesn't have a problem. Do you believe in (informed consent) sure we all do. So are you sure that your patient is informed enough about whatever substance that they can sign your pre-op sheet and smoke, drink, snort, or shoot it! Most of the time they hear it is bad for you. ie: "Cigarettes will kill you" Okay then bye. Not good enough teaching will turn many people away. You just have to do it!
| | No. 17 |
Apr 14, 2009, 10:41 AM
Re: nursing alcoholism & codependency
I have read the posts regarding this topic with great interest as a nurse whose practice has been exclusively devoted to nurses who have an issue with chemical dependency, whether or not it impacts their professional license. As duly licensed professionals in our various states, many of our colleagues do not realize the potential for disaster that even a legitimately prescribed substance or alcohol use can have on maintaining and/or renewal of licensure.
As to prevalence, all studies have supported the statistical range that from ten to twenty percent of nurses have an issue of chemical dependency during their lifetime.
One of the important factors that every nurse must consider is that no two states handle the matter of impaired practice exactly the same. While the majority of states offer alternative to discipline programs to encourage early identification of a problem, protect the public and save the nurse's career (which is a valuable resource,) several states do not.
What is crucial is education and that each nurse track trends within their own behavior and circumstances that signal risk of becoming chemically dependent prior to developing a problem in the workplace. As stigma regarding addiction and alcoholism is a deterrent to improved outcomes, I hope as individuals and a collective of professionals that so expertly care for others, we can offer our peers more support going forward than has been apparent to date.
| | No. 18 |
Apr 14, 2009, 10:59 AM
Re: nursing alcoholism & codependency Originally Posted by mama_d Personally, I think that anyone who puts up with the stuff that we do and keep going back for more almost have to have something wrong with them. If someone was in a relationship where they were getting verbally abused, threatened, physically intimidated, ridiculed, and put down on an ongoing basis, everyone in their right mind would ask why stay in that relationship? But there's just something about nursing that keeps us going back over and over again.
All I've been able to figure out for myself is that I enjoy helping others when they'll let me, and being there for people when they need me. Maybe that falls under the co-dependent category. But it means that in general I get a lot of satisfaction from my career, I'm able to keep going back, and it allows me to support my family. So I'm fine with having that particular defect or whatever you want to call it.
There are days when I threaten jokingly to my husband or close friends that as soon as I get home, I'm gonna hit the bottle or smoke a bowl. I never seem to get around to it though...but I think that when you combine the horrible stresses that we're subjected to with a predisposition to certain activities, it can be a recipe for potential disaster.
I'm screwed genetically as far as alcoholism goes...all four of my biological grandparents were alcoholics (my mom's parents would go through a case of beer a day each, they were both dead by 65). But it's rare that I drink, maybe just because I know that there's that history in my family. I do have the occasional glass of wine while I'm taking a bubble bath, but between the kids and work, I just don't have the time to drink. If I was single, without a strong support system of family and friends in place, who knows?
In some professions walking away from positions and staying away for years at a time would be a hallmark of a failure. However, in the nursing profession the truth is it the sign of a powerful person. I know when the crap gets above my ankles it is time to go. I think the people who are run health care management are the typical predatory business types who look down on caregivers as suckers and fools. At least that is a vibe I have frequently gotten from many people in positions of power in this business. Just look at the situation now. Are they using the current over supply of nursing staff as a chance to give better care to patients. NOOOOO, it is an excuse to beat down nurses, reduce cost by adding work load. Oh by the way, after cost go down and profits go up they will give themselves a nice big pay raise and a golden parachute. Nursing will get the same thing it always gets, the shaft.
| | No. 19 |
Apr 14, 2009, 02:13 PM
Re: nursing alcoholism & codependency Originally Posted by Dalzac Melody Beattie wrote a book called Codependant No More. there is a chapter that talks about nurses being at risk just because of the nature of codependantcy. I think there are 3 occupations that have such high risk, Cops, firefighters and nurses.
IMHO if the nurse doesn't have a drinking or drug problem then someone close to them does. Caretaking comes from taking care of others from a very early age of taking care of drunks and addicts.
This is spot on! Caregiving can easily morph into careTAKING. Caretaking happens when someone lives to help another, to the point that they cannot be happy unless the person they are helping is happy. Sounds like a great thing to be, doesn't it?
Well, psychiatric facilities are full of caretakers. Healthcare providers of all types are especially at risk, because they generally want to help people, care about people, and want to see them get better. We forget that other people *can* make their own decisions, take care of themselves, and that they have a life of their own.
How do I know this? Besides the fact that I read the book(Codependent No More), I just graduated from 7 weeks in a Recovering Professionals program, one of the best in the country. Everyone in my group was some kind of professional, someone who gave advice or treated others and had reached a point of no return, either through severe depression or substance abuse. Every one of us exhibited codependent behaviors to the extreme. I was so far gone, I was just about to "help" myself to suicide. That's how serious codependency can get.
I thank God for the program I am in(oh yes, I'm on a 1 year contract for aftercare.) I thank God that so far my license has not been affected. However, it could be and I want to make sure I do everything I can to prove that I'm taking my mental health seriously.
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