New book regarding addiction in nurses

Nurses Recovery

Published

A new book was published today called "From Unbecoming a Nurse to Overcoming Addiction." Stories from 29 nurses who had to deal with this lousy disease...some who succumbed and some who triumphed. A must read as far as I'm concerned. In fact, I think it should be mandatory reading for all nurses and in all training programs!

Jack

Specializes in ICU, psych, corrections.

Ordered the book last Thursday and it arrived on Monday! She's fast on the shipping :D Anyways, I'm more than halfway through it and love it. It's like reading my own thoughts in many of the stories. There are several that brought up enough emotion for me to have tears in my eyes. It definitely solidifies the idea I have of wanting to share my experience with others (specifically, other nurses and nursing students). It just shows there is not enough education in nursing schools and how unaware the students are of the real possibility of addiction. And some of the stories show just how strong denial is......:rolleyes: Thanks again, Jack. I will be passing this book along to my fellow nurses, that's for sure!

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Specializes in ICU, psych, corrections.
Makes one wonder what's behind all the anger and so-called "not giving a damn."

It's called "denial". I once lived there myself. Pretty cool place to live. Uh, yeah...not so much. :uhoh3:

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Specializes in Impaired Nurse Advocate, CRNA, ER,.
It's called "denial". I once lived there myself. Pretty cool place to live. Uh, yeah...not so much. :uhoh3:

Ahhhhh yes...denial is not a river in Africa.

Glad you liked the book. Your reaction is similar to so many of the folks in recovery who have read it. It seems every disease goes through this process, from epilepsy and leprosy to HIV and numerous "mental disorders" like depression and bipolar disorder. As long as we keep sharing, the stigma and shame resulting from the ignorance will begin to go away.

Jack

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Specializes in ICU, psych, corrections.
As long as we keep sharing, the stigma and shame resulting from the ignorance will begin to go away.

This is the same thought shared by author Benoit Denizet-Lewis who wrote one of the books I'm reading now called America Anonymous, Eight Addicts in Search of a Life. His introduction is an eye-opening one and it grabbed me. He also writes, "In essence, we've created a culture that supports and encourages addiction while at the same time shames, ridicules, and criminalizes those of us afflicted with it. As writer and addiction psychologist Stanton Peele once said, 'Addiction is not, as we like to think, an aberration from our way of life. Addiction is our way of life.'" It really has become that way. A co-worker of mine went to the dentist to have her crown replaced. Replaced, mind you. Not a root canal or some surgery performed. The dentist offered her a package deal of valium, vicodin, phenergan, and halcion :eek: Really! It just amazes me that we have become a society of let's fix it with this pill and that pill. I work around this all day long and there are days I leave work completely frustrated. Definitely has me practicing patience and tolerance. :o

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

All right, Jack: you talked me into ordering one...especially since I spent the past week trying to educate a patient--a nurse, no less--about her addiction, with little success.

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Specializes in Impaired Nurse Advocate, CRNA, ER,.
All right, Jack: you talked me into ordering one...especially since I spent the past week trying to educate a patient--a nurse, no less--about her addiction, with little success.

The DVD is a little over an hour long and was filmed in Utah's state and national parks. It's beautiful scenery if nothing else!

Why is it that people can't seem to "get" the physiology/pathophysiology of this disease? Other than wanting to hold on to beliefs that feed their fear and anger with the person afflicted (including themselves), why would someone refuse to learn what research has provided over the past 25-30 years?

It makes no sense to me.

Jack

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

Got the book and thought it was fantastic--very insightful and brutally honest.

My better half started thumbing through it...he has always had a hard time understanding why addiction is such a problem in nursing and how people (nurses as well as anyone else) could develop addictions. Mind you, there's AA and NA books from work all around the house, but they never caught his attention :) But this book did...and after reading parts of the book and having a long talk with me about it, he's definitely has a better understanding of addiction.

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.
It makes no sense to me.

Jack

Tell me about it. I'm now up to three nurse-patients and all of them are still in denial about their addiction and are not receptive to any teaching I provide--one still thinks they can "manage" their use :confused:

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Specializes in Impaired Nurse Advocate, CRNA, ER,.

One of the definite things about this disease is that it will progress if not treated. While we do the best we can to assist our colleagues, we also have to keep in mind that some folks will eventually die of this disease, no matter how hard we try to help. Just as there are some folks with cancer or diabetes and other chronic diseases who will not respond to treatment, so too with addiction.

Prayers for you and the nurses you work with.

Jack

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