Nurses and addictions

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Specializes in Everytype of med-surg.

What do you think needs to be done to stop the cycle of addiction in nurses? It seems like as nurses, we are the scapegoat for every problem. After sometimes even months of it, we begin to think we have to take it, in order to keep our job, which is sometimes very true! However, where have we lost our confidence that we are not worthy of being healthy, being attractive, being confident? That we take so much abuse from others and our self that we have to find an outlet such as alcohol, food, sleep, drugs etc. I have never seen another field where so many employees walk by with their eyes to the floor, that are content with wearing worn/torn clothing, letting patients and family treat us like servants etc. If I am just rambling, excuse me and I apologize. Just looking for some other ideas....

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Why not stop the cycle of addiction in people of all professions? We are no different than anyone else.

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Specializes in Hospice, Inpatient.
What do you think needs to be done to stop the cycle of addiction in nurses? It seems like as nurses, we are the scapegoat for every problem. After sometimes even months of it, we begin to think we have to take it, in order to keep our job, which is sometimes very true! However, where have we lost our confidence that we are not worthy of being healthy, being attractive, being confident? That we take so much abuse from others and our self that we have to find an outlet such as alcohol, food, sleep, drugs etc. I have never seen another field where so many employees walk by with their eyes to the floor, that are content with wearing worn/torn clothing, letting patients and family treat us like servants etc. If I am just rambling, excuse me and I apologize. Just looking for some other ideas....

Personally, I never needed to be abused in order to need a fix. I know that the stresses of our profession contribute to and trigger a lot of dysfunction. A lot of what you point out above seems to go along with a higher rate of addiction problems, to be sure.

Speaking for myself, however, I don't care if I was getting a piggyback ride from Jesus on the streets of gold. Before recovery I'd probably be thinking, "This would be cool with __________." (fill in your fix of choice)

Oh gosh. The sun came up again. I need a fix.

But that's just me.

Stringer

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Specializes in ER, TRAUMA, MED-SURG.
Why not stop the cycle of addiction in people of all professions? We are no different than anyone else.

Taz - you go girl!! You read my mind!! Exactly.....

Anne

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I have been a nurse for three years, and I have developed some very destructive behaviors in that time frame. I do feel like a servant to patients and families. I also feel worn out from long shifts, overtime, missing breaks, and a lack of normalcy d/t odd shift times. I have a lack of good coping manifested by bulemia, anxiety, mistrust for most people, and a hard time with committment...Can I add anything else to the list :( I'm trying very hard to love myself and change my maladaptive behaviors. It is great to know that others recognize similar feelings and experiences. I don't feel so alone.

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Specializes in Everytype of med-surg.

Thank you for everyone's replies. Recently, a few nurses that resigned due to being caught impaired at work. One was an admitted recreational drug user before she became a nurse but became clean, the other going through a divorce and was so visibly stressed, I was surprised it took her so long to crack. In both cases, the amount of support given to both made me proud of my co-workers, but like a few of you have pointed out, no matter the circumstances, people will make a choice to use.

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I think as nurses we need to get off the mountain of thinking we are any different than other people. Everyone is special, we are just not more special. We have problems like everyone else. We dirink , drug like anyone else. Perhaps the only difference is that drugs are more at our access, but then again so is alcohol to a bar tender. So it's not about hunting them down and helping. It needs to come from within that person. But, I have to say thanks for caring, it's sweet of you.

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