Treatment options for impaired nurses

Impairment exists on a continuum from minimal to severe. It may be barely perceptible to us, yet our colleague may be endeavoring to mask and compensate for his/her stress, chronic pain, mental or physical illness, or substance use disorder (SUD). Alternative-to-discipline (ATD) programs for impaired nurses are available in most states. The mission of these programs is to protect the public from unsafe nursing care through the voluntary cessation or restriction of practice by the impaired nurse. ATDs are confidential, therapeutic, nonpunitive programs that offer the nurse a structured assessment, treatment, and monitoring plan that facilitates successful rehabilitation and return-to-work.

Acceptance into an ATD program usually requires that the nurse:

Some of the services that an ATD offers the nurse include:

Instant Feedback:

Acknowledgment of impairment is required for acceptance into an Alternative to Discipline program.

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Patient-centered treatment

Impaired nurses should be aware that the Affordable Care Act (2010) requires most individual, small group and large group insurance policies to cover SUD and mental illness treatment to the same extent that they cover treatment for other chronic diseases, like diabetes or cancer, but there are variations among states.

Therapies common to SUD treatment:

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
Recovery from alcohol addiction through a 12-step program including regular attendance at group meetings.
Cocaine Anonymous (CA)
Recovery from cocaine addiction through a 12-step program including regular attendance at group meetings.
Crystal Meth Anonymous
Recovery from crystal meth addiction through a 12-step program including regular attendance at group meetings.
Dual Recovery Anonymous
Recovery from joint chemical dependence & emotional/psychiatric illness through a 12-step program including regular attendance at group meetings.
Marijuana Anonymous
Recovery from marijuana addiction through a 12-step program including regular attendance at group meetings.
Narcotics Anonymous (NA)
Recovery from drug addiction through a 12-step program including regular attendance at group meetings.
SMART Recovery®
4-Point Program® helps people recover from all types of addictive behaviors by teaching how to change self-defeating thinking, emotions, & actions.
Al-Anon Family Groups
Helps family and friends recover from the effects of someone else's drinking through a 12-step program, including regular attendance at group meetings.
Nar-Anon
Helps family and friends of addicts recover from the effects of living with an addicted relative or friend.

Below is a list of alternative to discipline programs run by State Boards of Nursing (the web is dynamic and links may change without notice).

 


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