Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Should the Board of Nursing Investigate a nurse with a DUI?

An interesting comment about a nurse receiving a DUI conviction:

"I am writing this because I am irritated that in the nursing field if you receive a DUI during your off duty time it can (and usually will) seriously affect your career. I have a colleague who has been nursing for over 40 years, they have never put patients in danger, and have never been intoxicated on shift. Yet this person receives a DUI and the BON immediately treats this person as if they are the scum of the earth."

First, with all of the ads about drinking and driving it's pretty tough to say "I didn't know..."

Second, anytime a person drives while under the influence of a mood altering chemical, whether it's alcohol, prescription medications (opioids, sedatives, tranquilizers, muscle relaxants, etc.), or illegal drugs (marijuana, cocaine/crack, amphetamines/methamphetamines, heroin, etc.) it's a sign of poor judgment. Not the type of judgment I want to see in a health care professional caring for me or my loved ones.

More importantly, a DUI is an overt sign of a serious problem with substance abuse or chemical dependence and should be referred or court ordered to treatment.

According to the website "DUI Foundation" (http://www.duifoundation.org/):

On average, the first time drunk driving offender has driven drunk 87 times prior to being arrested.


According to Rebekka S. Palmer, Ph.D., Yale University School of Medicine, and Mary E. Larimer, Ph.D.,University of Washington: in a press release on March 26, 2007:

Most first-time offenders for driving while intoxicated need help for more than just alcohol

* Driving while intoxicated (DWI) is a significant public-health problem in the US.
* New findings indicate that many first-time DWI offenders also have high rates of other substance-use disorders as well as other psychiatric disorders.
* Intervention programs may need to provide enhanced services to help this more severe subtype of DWI offenders.


Also in that press release:

"We found that 42 percent of first-time DUI offenders reported a lifetime history of drug abuse or dependence," Palmer said in a news release. "Marijuana abuse or dependence was the most prevalent, followed by hallucinogen abuse or dependence, and then cocaine abuse or dependence. Approximately 30 percent of the participants also indicated a lifetime history of anxiety or mood disorder. Social phobia was the most frequent anxiety diagnosis, and major depression was the most common mood disorder."


It always makes me shake my head when I hear the "what you do in your private life shouldn't affect your license" argument. When the things you do in your personal life are illegal or show poor judgment, the licensing agency has a duty to investigate. Their job is to protect the public from professionals who are unsafe. A professional who drives under the influence is declaring loud and clear "I make poor decisions regarding controlled substances and the welfare of others" (not to mention their own welfare).

Chemical dependence is a disease that alters the brain which alters perception, learning, and decision making. Active alcoholics/addicts are incapable of seeing they have the disease...it's called pathological denial. There are very few truly recovering individuals who would agree with the argument that a DUI should be ignored by the licensing boards. We've been there and know exactly how out of control we were before we entered treatment, and we don't want to see others go through the same living hell we've been through. While we aren't responsible for having the disease of dependence, we all MUST accept full responsibility for our recovery.

The person who struggles with substance abuse or chemical dependence usually faces an intervention before they will seek treatment. That intervention can take one of the following forms:

- Planned by family, friends or colleagues.

- An arrest and/or conviction for a DUI or diversion from work.

- Accidental overdose or trauma as a result of an accident, domestic violence or other criminal activity.

- Or death

Hopefully someone will love and respect the addict enough to perform an intervention.

If you know of someone who may be dealing with substance abuse or addiction, contact me for assistance in obtaining help before a consequence occurs that can't be remedied.

jack@jackstem.com or call me at 513-833-4584. All contact is confidential.

Don't forget to attend the nursing workshops on Nursing Law (by LaTonia Denise Wright, RN, BSN, JD) and The Impaired Nurse by yours truly. They begin next Monday March 30, at 6:00 PM. Seating is limited, so call to reserve your seat. Fee is $20.00 at the door (cash only please...receipt provided). Contact me at the resources listed above.

MARCH 30, 2009

Substance Abuse and Addiction in Nursing: The Profession’s Response
6pm-7pm

2009 RN Renewal Application and the Ohio Board of Nursing

7pm-8pm

Location:
Panera Bread
405 East Kemper Road
Springdale, Ohio 45246

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Should a nurse with a DUI be reported and disciplined by the board of nursing?

I'll have more to say about this topic in the next few days. For right now, here's a blog from a nurse attorney in Texas.

DWI & Nursing License Discipline by the Texas Board of Nurse Examiners

What are YOUR thoughts about this article?

Jack

Workshop for Nurses in Greater Cincinnati, Monday March 30, 2009

Just a reminder to nurses in the Greater Cincinnati Area.

There is a workshop being presented in Cincinnati on Monday evening March 30, 2009 from 6 - 8PM.

The first presentation is from 6 - 7 PM by me. The topic: "Substance Abuse and Addiction in Nursing: The Profession’s Response".

The second presentation is from 7 - 8 PM by LaTonia Denise Wright, RN, BSN, JD of The Law Office of LaTonia Denise Wright. The topic, "2009 RN Renewal Application and the Ohio Board of Nursing".

The setting will allow for interaction with both myself and LaTonia. We are limiting the seating to 25 attendees. The price is $20.00/person. Payment is cash with receipts available. Refreshments will be provided. To make reservations, contact me at: jack@jackstem.com or call 513-833-4584.

Location: Panera Bread
405 East Kemper Road
Springdale, Ohio 45246

Sunday, March 15, 2009

"Can I run this by you?".

Keep your ears open for a new recovery based radio program in Cincinnati, Ohio called, “Can I run this by you?" TM. Cynthia B. is the creator and high energy producer behind the idea. I spoke with her today by phone and she is currently seeking individuals and corporations interested in becoming involved in promoting the message of recovery. Cynthia describes the idea behind the program like this:

“Can I run this by you?" TM is a 1-hour call-in talk radio program hosted by Cynthia B. featuring interviews with individuals in, and experts of, addiction and recovery communicated through engaging and meaningful exchange of ideas. The featured radio program covers news updates and interviews around the topics of addiction, treatment, research and recovery whilst probing the spiritual components of sustained recovery. As well, this is a public affairs program with callers from the listening audience phoning in to “run something by” the host and/or guests. Maximizing your customer equity is developed using Can I run this by you? on your station or network as it provides a means for developing processes that identify, attract, and retain high value customers."

If you or someone you know would be interested in becoming a sponsor for "Can I run this by you?", you may contact me by email: jack@jackstem.com or call 513-833-4584, or you may contact Cynthia at cynthiasueblock111@yahoo.com or by calling 859-801-9461.

Updates as they become available.

"One day at a time!"

Sunday, March 8, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Jack Stem
Peer Advocacy for Impaired Nurses, LLC
513-833-4584 (Cell)
513-231-4280 (Home)
Email: jack@jackstem.com
http://www.peeradvocacyforimpairednurses.com


Helping the Helpers: Substance Abuse and Addiction in Nurses

Dateline: Cincinnati, Ohio March 07, 2009 – Nurses aren't supposed to become addicts. Their education and training should prevent this from happening, shouldn't it? Nurses who become addicts must be morally bankrupt with a lack of willpower, right?

"Hogwash!", says Jack Stem, founder and CEO of Peer Advocacy for Impaired Nurses, LLC. "Nurses develop the disease of addiction at least at the same rate as the general public. Some researchers have found a higher rate for health care professionals in certain specialties, including anesthesia, ER, and ICU. "Providing care for critically ill patients, long hours, under staffing, the expectation of perfection when caring for these patients, and the lack of respect from physicians, administrators, and even their own colleagues can cause intense pressure. Mix in sleep disturbances, lack of understanding from family members, growing up in a family with a parent who abuses alcohol or drugs, and a genetic predisposition for chemical dependence and you have the makings for "the perfect storm", says Stem.

Despite a rapidly increasing level of understanding about this chronic, progressive, fatal if untreated disease, there remains an astounding gap in getting this information to the practicing health care professional. Substance abuse and addiction continue to be seen as a lack of willpower moral corruption. “Addicts are seen as moral degenerates who have done this to themselves. They could stop if the wanted too, they just don't want to”, says Stem, a former ER nurse and certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA). Mr. Stem is also a recovering addict and founded Peer Advocacy for Impaired Nurses, LLC, as consulting firm focused on educating the nursing profession about the disease among it's members and advocating for appropriate treatment and monitoring. “It took quite awhile for me to finally come to grips with this disease. It cost me the most important things in my life. My marriage, the relationships with my children and family, and ultimately my career as a nurse anesthetist. I don't want to see other professionals go through the living hell I experienced due to the lack of knowledge so pervasive throughout society and the health care community. How can we expect to help the health care consumer to change their view of this disease if we can't help our colleagues? We have a professional and ethical obligation to change the way substance abuse is treated in this country. Unfortunately we aren't doing a very good job of that, are we?”

Mr. Stem has joined forces with LaTonia Denise Wright, RN, BSN, JD, a leading attorney dealing with nursing and licensure issues in Ohio,Kentucky, and Indiana. Wright and Stem have developed a series of workshops for nurses in the Greater Cincinnati area. These workshops will focus on the disease of chemical dependence, recognizing an impaired colleague, and taking steps designed to safely remove the impaired nurse from practice while helping them enter treatment programs designed to deal with the unique needs of addicted health care professionals. Ms. Wright discusses the legal and licensure issues facing the nurse dealing with substance abuse and addiction. She also provides valuable information covering a wide variety of legal issues many nurses are unaware they face on a daily basis in their practice.

The workshops begin on March 30, 2009 and will be offered throughout the remainder of the year. The first workshop is scheduled for March 30, 2009 at Panera Bread, 405 East Kemper Road, Springdale, Ohio, 45246. Mr. Stem's topic: "Substance Abuse and Addiction in Nursing: The Profession’s Response" begins at 6:00 pm. Ms. Wright will discuss "2009 RN Renewal Application and the Ohio Board of Nursing" at 7:00 pm. Fee is $20.00 at the door (receipts provided). Each workshop is limited to 25 participants.

For additional information or a copy of the titles and dates of the workshops, or to make a reservation, contact:

Jack Stem
Peer Advocacy for Impaired Nurses, LLC
513-833-4584 (Cell)
513-231-4280 (Home)
Email: jack@jackstem.com
Web Site: http://www.peeradvocacyforimpairednurses.com
Seminar dates: http://peeradvocacyforimpairednurses.com/workshops.html
Blog: http://advocacyforimpairednurses.blogspot.com/
Providing assistance for nurses dealing with substance abuse and chemical dependence. Educational programs, policy development, and assistance with interventions.

or

LaTonia Denise Wright, RN, BSN, JD
The Law Offices of LaTonia Denise Wright, LLC
11427 Reed Hartman Highway Suite 205
Cincinnati, Ohio 45241
Phone: 513-771-7266
Fax:
Email: ldw@nursing-jurisprudence.com
Web Site: http://www.nursing-jurisprudence.com/
Blog: http://www.advocatefornurses.typepad.com/
Representing, Counseling, and Advising Nurses.

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