Drug abuse in Nursing

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I am writing a position paper on chemically dependent nurses and I would like to get some of your opinions! Here is the subject:

Should impaired nurses be allowed to continue to practice once they have successfully completed a treatment program?

Let me know what you think! Your help is greatly appreciated!

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Originally posted by mamy:

I am writing a position paper on chemically dependent nurses and I would like to get some of your opinions! Here is the subject:

Should impaired nurses be allowed to continue to practice once they have successfully completed a treatment program?

Let me know what you think! Your help is greatly appreciated!

I just did two presentations on chemically dependent nurses last semester. I think they should by allowed back to work as long as they have a period of monitoring as decided by supervisors. For example, they would only treat minor cases and have another RN supervise their medications. They should continue some form of counseling/ group therapy for at least 6 mos. to 1 year after they finish treatment. And then, slowly progress back to an independent, unsupervised nurse. This is my opinion along with some research I found which supports it.

Good luck with the paper!

Stacie from Baylor

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