Resources
State-Based Resources
State Nursing Associations
Below is a link to a listing of State Nurses Associations (also District of Columbia and Federal nurses) and their individual Web sites. [NOTE: Within the ANA structure and in other locations throughout this Web site, state nurses associations may also be termed "Constituent Member Associations" or "CMAs".]
State nurses associations with a larger infrastructure may have their own peer assistance program in place, with helpful information on their Web site. If this information is not immediately apparent at your state association’s Web site, do not be discouraged; call and ask where they might refer you for confidential counseling.
State Boards of Nursing
Individual State Boards of Nursing are the single most important regulatory body overseeing nursing practice. Their primary responsibility is to protect the public through the regulation of nursing. Many, but not all, states participate in “alternative to discipline” programs when handling matters involving impaired nurses. These state boards often have helpful information devoted to an explanation of how their individual state’s program functions, along with links to supportive local organizations.
The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) is an organization whose membership comprises the boards of nursing in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and five United States territories. Its purpose is to provide an organization through which boards of nursing work together on matters of common interest and concern affecting the public health, safety and welfare, including the regulation of nursing and the development of nursing licensing examinations. NCSBN developed Model Guidelines for nondisciplinary alternative programs for chemically impaired nurses over ten years ago and has been working since to improve and refine their application with the dual goals of protecting the public and helping nurses in recovery safely reclaim their careers. The Council has multiple resources available.
Nursing Specialty Organizations
A large number of organizations represent a variety of specialty practice areas in nursing, and several have devoted considerable resources to the issue of impaired nurses.
American Association of Nurse Anesthetists Peer Assistance Program (http://www.aana.com/Resources.aspx?ucNavMenu_TSMenuTargetID=154&ucNavMenu_TSMenuTargetType=4&ucNavMenu_TSMenuID=6&id=191)
The Nurse Anesthetists have taken a leadership role in helping their impaired colleagues into recovery. Their Web site offers a splendid array of services and resources for the impaired nurse, with a focus on peer assistance.
Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses (www.aorn.org)
A two-part home study program published in the October and November, 2005, issues of AORN Journal (Vol. 82, Nos. 4 & 5), “Substance Abuse Among Nurses,” is a helpful overview. Part I focuses on “Defining the issue,” while Part II covers “Intercession and intervention.”
Emergency Nurses Association (
www.ena.org)
The ENA has taken an official position supporting the concepts of prevention, identification, treatment, rehabilitation and on-going support for emergency nurses with chemical impairment.
www.ena.org/about/position/PDFs/ChemicalImpairment.PDF
Organizations Specializing in Addictions/Recovery
International Nurses Society on Addictions (www.intnsa.org)
The International Nurses Society on Addictions (IntNSA) is a professional specialty organization founded in 1975 for nurses committed to the prevention, intervention, treatment, and management of addictive disorders including alcohol and other drug dependencies, nicotine dependencies, eating disorders, dual and multiple diagnosis, and process addictions such as gambling.
American Society of Addiction Medicine (www.asam.org)
The American Society of Addiction Medicine is an association of physicians dedicated to improving the treatment of alcoholism and other addictions, educating physicians and medical students, promoting research and prevention, and enlightening and informing the medical community and the public about these issues. The Society serves its members by providing opportunities for education and sharing of experiences, and by promoting the development of a body of professional knowledge and literature to enhance the quality and increase the availability of appropriate health care for people affected by the addictions.
National Organization of Alternative Programs (www.alternativeprograms.org)
The mission of NOAP is to promote public safety through participation of potentially impaired healthcare professionals in monitored rehabilitation and recovery as an alternative to license discipline, emphasizing fitness to practice and retention of competent professionals. NOAP is committed to working in cooperation with regulatory and professional organizations toward this objective.
Nurses in Recovery (www.brucienne.com/nir)
This list describes itself as having been begun mainly for recovering nurses. Since then all recovering health care professionals are welcome to join and participate. The only requirement is that the participant be a health care professional and be in recovery or have a desire to be in recovery from drug addiction, alcoholism, gambling, codependency... any obsessive compulsive addictive process.
Exceptional Nurse (www.exceptionalnurse.com)
ExceptionalNurse.com is a resource network committed to inclusion of more people with disabilities in the nursing profession. By sharing information and resources, ExceptionalNurse.com hopes to facilitate inclusion of students with disabilities in nursing education programs and foster resilience and continued practice for nurses who are, or become, disabled. This web site is maintained by Donna Maheady, Ed.D., ARNP, an advocate for nurses and nursing students with disabilities. This Web site has a special resource listing for nurses in recovery.
International Nurses Anonymous (www.intnursesanon.org)
INA strives to provide support and networking among nurses in recovery from chemical dependence and co-dependence. INA respects an underlying foundation basic to many 12-step groups, such as anonymity and the guidelines of the 12 Traditions; however it is not affiliated with other organizations or causes. Many of its members have been, or are, involved in programs to help impaired nurses. These may be peer assistance, diversion programs through regulatory boards, or professional treatment programs. These activities are completely separate from INA.
Hazelden Foundation (www.hazelden.org)
Hazelden is a well-known drug and alcohol rehabilitation organization based on work in the 1950s and 1960s that set the standard and defined the model for all Twelve-Step-based, multidisciplinary treatment programs in operation today. It was Hazelden staff who began teaching the Twelve Steps in a residential setting, and whose ground-breaking work in incorporating psychology and psychiatry, physical health and fitness, emotional and family systems therapies and other approaches, define the "multidisciplinary model" of care. Hazelden offers a special Health Care Professionals Inpatient Alcohol and Drug Treatment Program, working with state diversion and monitoring programs to provide healthcare professionals with an array of structured treatment services for alcoholism and drug dependency. Their programs recognize that addicted healthcare professionals have sophisticated defense mechanisms and present unique recovery challenges.
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (www.niaaa.nih.gov)
NIAAA’s missions is to provide leadership in the national effort to reduce alcohol-related problems in the following ways:
- Conduct and support research in a wide range of scientific areas including genetics, neuroscience, epidemiology, health risks and benefits of alcohol consumption, prevention, and treatment;
- Coordinate and collaborate with other research institutes and Federal Programs on alcohol-related issues;
- collaborate with international, national, state, and local institutions, organizations, agencies, and programs engaged in alcohol-related work; and
- translate and disseminate research findings to health care providers, researchers, policymakers, and the public.
Professional Health Program Resource Network (www.phprn.com)
This site is dedicated to helping professionals easily find recovery-related services for those who are in need. While the primary focus has been to assist Physician Health Programs and other Health Professional Wellness Programs, the service is available to all Employee Assistance Programs and others in need of referral resources. Listings can be searched nationwide or by region with focus on the particular service required.