Question

Discuss the chemically impaired nurse/health care professional. Identify behaviors and actions that may signify chemical impairment in an employee or colleague. What risk factors result in an increased risk for chemical addiction in the nursing profession. What are your personal feelings/ experiences regarding the chemically impaired nurse/health care professional. How would your personal feelings affect your ability as a manager to address a chemically impaired employee.

Answer 1

Chemically impaired nurse

Impairment occurs due to when a nurse is unable to ensure to safe patient care as a result of using a mood or mind altering substance, having a physical condition or a distorted thought process from a psychological condition.

Due to these reasons a nurse is unfit to provide quality and safe care to patients.

Identify behaviors and actions that may signify chemical impairment in an employee or colleague.

• Poor quality of work
• Medication errors
• Documentation errors
• Not being punctual at work
• Excessive use of sick leaves
• Mood swings after breaks
• Suspicious attitude towards others
• Obsession with narcotics or the Pyxis machine

What risk factors result in an increased risk for chemical addiction in the nursing profession

• Depression
• Excessive work load
• Conflicts at work
• Unhappy towards life
• Psychological issues
• Physical problems
• Health conditions
• Easy accessibility of abusive substances

What are your personal feelings/ experiences regarding the chemically impaired nurse/health care professional.

It is a potentially dangerous situation that leads to poor quality of health care or even death of patients due to the substance abuse at work.

It must be prevented at work by enforcing strict bylaws. Since nurses often deal with the life of their patients.

How would your personal feelings affect your ability as a manager to address a chemically impaired employee.

• It helps me to address every aspect of substance abuses in a professional manner.
• I can focus on it effectively
• I can provide education regarding the issue to the needy
• I can record and report the issue for legal purposes