Caring for the Caregivers: Substance Abuse and Addiction in Nurses and Nursing Law Workshops

March 19, 2009 - PRLog -- "Hogwash!", says Jack Stem, founder and CEO of Peer Advocacy for Impaired Nurses, LLC a Cincinnati consulting firm.  "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, understaffing, 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 and 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 Jack Stem, a former ER nurse and certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA). Mr. Stem is also a recovering addict and founder of Peer Advocacy for Impaired Nurses, LLC, a 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, including 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 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.

About Peer Advocacy for Impaired Nurses, LLC

Founded by Jack Stem in 2008 to improve patient care and safety and to assist nurses in achieving long term recovery. These goals are accomplished by assisting the nursing profession in early recognition and intervention of the impaired nurse. A variety of services are provided, including educational programs and workshops, assisting organizations in developing effective policies and procedures for preventing substance abuse and dealing with impaired nursing staff. Additional services are designed to assist the impaired nurse in obtaining appropriate, evidence based treatment for substance abuse and chemical dependence, relapse prevention, and recovery “coaching”.

For additional information on these and other services, a copy of the titles and dates of the workshops for nurses, 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.

For information on the programs and services provided by The Law Offices of LaTonia Denise Wright, LLC, contact:

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
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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About Peer Advocacy for Impaired Nurses, LLC

Information regarding Substance Abuse and Chemical Dependence in the nursing profession. Services include Recovery coaching, advocacy for impaired health care professionals, policy development and presentations for nursing organizations, anesthesia departments, businesses and faith-based communities. Assistance with interventions and referrals to treatment facilities with programs for health care professionals.