Substance Abuse In Nursing

Brenda Combs is a strong, determined women who has experienced the roughest parts of life and who has made a positive impact on people around her. When Combs developed a partying habit, she also got into the dangerous habit of taking drugs. Combs eventually became a cocaine addicted who would fall in and out of bad relationships. Then, one day when she got her shoes stolen from her, Combs decided to turn her life around and gain her dignity back. The first challenge she faced while changing her life around was to try and stay strong in rehab as it was “the hardest she had ever known” (paragraph 18). Combs determination eventually led her to a bachelor’s degree from the University of Phoenix and a job at the StarShine charter school.

If a person can make the choice to take drugs then they can also make the choice to stop taking drugs, especially during those times in between when they are not taking drugs. For a person to voluntarily continue taking drugs of their own accord then they should be held accountable for their addictive behavior and not use brain disease as an excuse.

Over the years, substance abuse in the United States has become a persistent issue affecting many individuals. In 2008, it was estimated that 17.8 million Americans over the age of 18 where substance dependent (Epstein, Burns, & Conlon, 2010). Many of these individuals being affected are nurses. Ponech (2000) stated that "approximately 10% of the nursing population has alcohol or drug abuse problems, and 6% has problems serious enough to interfere with their ability to practice" (as cited in Talbert, 2009, p.17). Studies show that nurses have a 50% higher rate of substance abuse compared to the rest of the public (Epstein et al., 2010). Among the many factors that contribute to the nurse’s issue of substance abuse,

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric sequel to a stressful event or situation of an exceptionally threatening or catastrophic nature. It develops after a person is involved in a horrifying ordeal that involved physical maltreatment or the threat of physical harm. These events can include combat or military experience, abuse during childhood or adulthood (physical or sexual), terrorist attacks, serious accidents or natural disasters. This person may have been the one that was harmed, witnessed a harmful event or had a loved one who was harmed. It is normal for the body’s fight or flight mechanism to engage in times of danger. With a person who has PTSD, that mechanism is damaged and the person feels this even when they are not in danger. Symptoms can be categorized into four different areas – re-experiencing symptoms (flashbacks, bad dreams, frightening thoughts) , avoiding situations that remind the person of the event, negative changes in beliefs and feelings (may be fear, guilt, shame or losing interest in those activities that once were enjoyable) and hypervigilence (always feeling keyed up, trouble concentrating or sleeping). There are also feelings of hopelessness, despair, depression or anxiety, alcohol or substance abuse, physical symptoms or chronic pain and problems with employment and relationships.

I used to do a lot of summer stock because I love musical theater, and I wanted to keep working even between voice and film/TV work. Interestingly enough, I went to Japan’s Tokyo Disney park back in 2004--it was an all-inclusive trip. When I came back, I was sick. We have no idea where or how I picked up the disease, but I developed Secondary Addison’s Disease. For six years, I suffered with this disease. In some ways, I practically lost those six years. I still did some voiceover work, but this disease affects your energy level. You body doesn’t make cortisol which affects your blood sugar and blood pressure. When I did my work, I would take everything with me and sleep in the car as I knew after work, I wouldn’t have the energy to drive home. As of now, I am cured, which is a miracle, but it definitely was a time of struggle and uncertainty for

In first talking about substance use, abuse and addiction as it relates to the Nursing profession it is necessary to understand the aspect of addiction. Drug use is a broad idea that refers to the use of any chemical substance rather legal or illegal. This topic includes prescription drugs, street drugs, herbal supplements, and the like. The term Drug abuse is defined as “the use of a substance or substances in such a way that it leads to measurable personal, interpersonal, or social consequences” (Faupel, C., E., Horowitz, A., M., & Weaver, G., S., 2010, p.20). Drug addiction is then regarded as “a compulsive use of chemicals (drugs or alcohol) and the inability to stop using them despite all the problems caused by their use” (National

Being apart of the Drug-Free Hire Me program, I am aware of the many importances of being substance, alcohol, and drug free. When someone is under the influence, their body has been taken over and has been filled with a toxic substance that makes decisions for the intoxicated individual. This results in decisions that could affect the person greatly and possibly ruin their potential and bright future. Some of these decisions could include to continue being intoxicated as well as making it worse, sexual activity, and driving. Some effects that could come out of these decision could be pregnant and many injuries that take place chronically or even initially happen as the decision was made such as a car accident. It is important for individuals

Substance abuse disorders is easily defined when an “individual continues to use the substance despite experiencing negative consequences from their use. These negative consequences can include health problems; difficulties in their family, work, and social life; and financial and legal problems. They are said to be dependent on the substance when,” in addition to theses negative consequences, they build tolerance and experience withdrawal if they stop using the drug” (Martin, 2007, p. 265). Substance abuse dates back to the early Americans colonies with beer that was brought over by the pilgrims and more popularly the ratification of the Constitution to prohibit the use of alcohol

The broad research problem leading to this study is the belief that nursing shortage in facilities leads to patient safety issues. The review of available literature on this topic shows strong evidence that lower nurse staffing levels in hospitals are associated with worse patient outcomes. Some of these outcomes include very high patient to nurse ratio, fatigue for nurses leading to costly medical mistakes, social environment, nursing staff attrition from the most affected facilities. The study specifically attempts to find a way to understand how nurse

"My own manifestations incorporate coughing, sneezing and not being able to do things that I regularly could do on the off chance that I wasn't sick. For instance, on the off chance that I was hacking a considerable measure, at that point I couldn't do any games or move on the grounds that it would make me more gainful, which implies raising bunches of mucus and isn't extremely pleasant. Some of the time it influences me too tired before my companions, which can be humiliating.

We may feel physically and mentally drained and sometimes we don 't know why. The fact of the matter is, it is typically a combination of events and situations that you are facing that are causing this dreaded fatigue. Not only are the effects of fatigue putting your patients at risk, but you

Sick days are supposed to be fun right? Well for the characters Schatz and the boy from "Stolen Day" by Sherwood Anderson and "A Day's Wait" by Ernest Hemingway, their sick day wasn't so good. Schatz woke up feeling bad so his father made him lay down, a while later the doctor came in and took his temperature. Schatz was originally from the U.K. and got the thermometers mixed up. The boy claims he has a disease called inflammatory rheumatism that effects the heart, so he gets sent home early. Both characters re feeling sick but is one faking

Drug abuse is an illness that causes a damaging pattern of using any substance that will in turn bring about substantial issues. Some of the major concerns are the tolerance of the substance and the withdrawal from it. The issues caused can be either work/school related or socially.

During the treatment and assessment of drug or alcohol users, social workers must put their own morals and opinions aside in order to properly assess those who are afflicted by addiction (Boyle et al, 2009). Subsequently it is important for social workers to know themselves as individuals and professionals when facilitating those they are trying to help. The social workers’ approach to the client can help determine the foundation for intervention techniques. However, in order for a social worker to fully understand the client who suffers from substance abuse, it is important to know the neurological effects that the client endures in order to ultimately gain a better understanding of treatment methods.

A healthy person takes fewer sick leaves, thereby assuring on time job delivery. With all