Alcohol and drug abuse have become the third highest preventable health problem in the United States. It is known that nurses and other health care professionals are not exempt from this health crisis. As nurses, we need to be aware of these statistics so we can safely care for our patients, our staff members and ourselves.
Conservative estimates suggest that somewhere between 7 and 10 percent of Americans are addicted to alcohol or other drugs.
The impact of a person's addiction is felt directly and upon everyone else in their sphere, Family, friends and co-workers are negatively affected, With the impaired nurse, it is patient safety that we are most concerned. We cannot accurately determine the actual cost of patient care errors caused by impaired nurses.
Some experts in recovery suggest that estimates are higher than the general population due to a nurses access to controlled substances as well as the
increased stress on today's nurses.
- Chemical dependency is a primary, chronic and progressive disease and is not a moral issue
- Untreated substance abuse is an illness that threatens quality of life with potentially fatal consequences
- Successful rehabilitation is possible with appropriate treatment and support
A nurse who becomes impaired deserves the care and support offered to any chronically ill patient. Addiction is a disease process. As an illness, substance use disorders have identifiable symptoms and predictable outcomes unless treated.
Nurses frequently do not seek treatment for alcohol and other drug problems due to their fear of exposure, possible loss of employment and the judgment of their peers. As a profession, it is in out collective best interest to help impaired nurses achieve recovery.
Nurses who seek help and enter fully into the Texas Health Springwood Sober Nurse Recovery Program will find their lives transformed. Our program approach is tailored to the individual nurse's needs in recovery. At Texas Health Springwood, we bring the most effective individualized programs to our nurses in order to
get them into recovery and back into their profession.
Patient Referrals
Texas Health Springwood Hospital and Texas Health Springwood Centers offer evaluations and assessment services free of charge. Patients in crisis may be sent directly from a physican's office. Patients can walk in any time Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Patients can also make a scheduled appointment at 972-908-2303. |
