CEO of Peer Advocacy for Impaired Nurses, LLC Joins Number One Self Improvement Web Site

May 30, 2009 - PRLog -- Jack Stem, a recovering opioid addict and former Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) founded Peer Advocacy for Impaired Nurses to provide needed services for nurses who develop substance abuse (SA) and the disease called chemical dependence (CD). He is also the chair of the Peer Assistance Committee and one of two peer advisors  for the Ohio State Association for Nurse Anesthetists. “Even though addiction has been recognized as a disease by major health care associations, including the American Medical Association, the American Nurses Association, and the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists, the front line providers still receive little, if any education about addiction in their training programs. As a result, the stigma associated with addiction continues to interfere with early recognition and intervention for nurses impaired by substance abuse and chemical dependence. Addiction continues to be seen as a moral failing and lack of willpower despite the enormous amount of scientific data about the disease and the effects of chronic substance misuse on the brain.”

Mr. Stem provides presentations and workshops for nurses, hospitals, nursing schools and other organizations. These programs discuss the disease process, early signs of impairment in nurses and other health care providers, how to perform an intervention, referral to treatment programs designed specifically for the unique needs of impaired health care professionals.

Other services include advocacy for nurses facing legal and professional consequences, assistance with developing and performing interventions, and education of colleagues and families of the impaired nurse. “Addiction not only affects the addict, it also causes significant, inappropriate coping mechanisms within the family and co-workers. If the addict receives appropriate treatment and then returns to the unhealthy family and workplace environments, the risk of relapse is significantly higher than in families and businesses receiving education about the disease and healthy ways of interacting with the recovering nurse,” says Stem.

Two additional services are offered. A relapse prevention course for those individuals seeking to develop skills and techniques to reduce the risk of relapse which will be offered beginning in July. Mr. Stem also offers “recovery mentoring”. This is a one on one service in which the recovering nurse can hire Mr. Stem on an hourly basis to develop recovery goals, and develop successful methods or techniques to achieve those goals. “This mentoring service is not addiction treatment or counseling, nor is it a replacement for 12 Step and other support groups,” says Stem. “I provide a service that fills the gap between treatment programs and 12 Step sponsorship, focusing on specific issues faced by the recovering nurse. It's similar to hiring a personal trainer to help achieve specific fitness goals quicker and more effectively. I help them discover their strengths in recovery and use those strengths to achieve a stronger base of recovery. In the process, I hope to help them achieve happier, healthier lives, and to return to the practice of nursing if possible.”

Nurses receive very little assistance from the board of nursing. State licensure boards see their function as a protector of the public from unsafe nursing practice. If a nurse lives in a state without an effective alternative to discipline program, the impaired nurse is essentially left on their own to try to find the assistance they need and deserve. “If the nursing profession doesn't understand how to deal effectively with impaired colleagues, how can we expect non-health care professionals to do any better?”, asks Stem. “Despite the abundant science regarding this disease, nurses continue to see addiction as a moral failing and a lack of willpower. If I had a nickel for every time I heard the phrase, 'They did this to themselves, what did they expect?', I could open 10 free clinics. I guarantee you, NO ONE chooses to become an addict. The lack of even basic knowledge regarding the science of addiction perpetuates what I call the '3 Ms of addiction', Myth, Misbelief, and Misunderstanding. If nursing would change the way they approach impaired colleagues, the community at large would begin to change as well. I'm foolish enough to think one person can make a difference and help the profession change the way they deal with impaired colleagues.”

Mr. Stem frequently posts messages and replies to questions regarding substance abuse on web sites focused on nursing and nursing issues. “It's amazing to read some of the things nurses post on these nursing forums and bulletin boards. Some have no basis in science whatsoever. Others are nothing more than personal attacks on nurses seeking assistance and advice on how to get help in dealing with this destructive disease. It's amazing to see a trained health care provider ignore the science in order to continue to hold on to their belief that addiction is something someone chooses to do. This kind of behavior is unprofessional and unethical. The Code of Ethics for Nurses developed by the American Nurses Association specifically deals with the impaired nurse.”

Provision 3.6 of the Code of Ethics for Nurses addresses impaired practice. It basically states nurses have a duty to take action to protect patients AND also assure their impaired colleague receives assistance in regaining their health and optimal function. It goes on to say nurses in ALL roles should advocate for colleagues who may be impaired. This is to ensure they receive appropriate help in finding treatment while also helping them receive fair institutional and legal processes.

This assistance should also include support for the nurse to return to practice if their treatment provider determines they are capable of doing so.

There is no excuse for the unprofessional and unethical treatment an impaired nurse, or any other person dealing with addiction, receives from many nurses and other health care professionals. It's time for the health care community to wake up.”

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About Peer Advocacy for Impaired Nurses, LLC: A provider of information regarding Substance Abuse and Chemical Dependence in the nursing profession. Recovery mentoring, policy development, presentations for nursing organizations, businesses and Faith communities on prevention, recognition, and obtaining help for those dealing with substance abuse and chemical dependence.