Given the important role that they play in the delivery of care, nurses are expected to be stable and reliable. However, the pressure that the nurses face and the personal struggles that they grapple with hamper their capacity to deliver quality care. It has been observed with concern that substance abuse is among the challenges that nurses face today (Monroe & Kenaga, 2011). In an effort to cope with the demands of their jobs, many nurses resort to drugs. As a result, they are unable to deliver care as expected. To ensure that the delivery of care is not compromised, no effort should be spared in responding to the needs of nurses.
Carrie represents the thousands of nurses who work tirelessly and with enviable devotion. It is unfortunate that her commitment to her job is occurring at the expense of her wellbeing. Given her inability to adequately care for her patients, it is fair to conclude that she is struggling with substance abuse. As part of the intervention to rescue her, it is important to develop a clear and elaborate plan and a gap analysis. Basically, a gap analysis involves assessing how a healthcare institution’s performance compares to established best practices. Thanks to a gap analysis, the institution is able to identify areas that fall short and make improvement. As part of the gap analysis, focus will be given to how the workload of such nurses as Carrie goes against nursing standards. One of the best practices is nursing concerns attending to the welfare of nurses (Davys & Beddoe, 2010). Institutions need to assign nurses tasks which are not too overwhelming. There is no question that Carrie’s employer fails to meet this requirement.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
With the gap analysis completed, the next phase of Carrie’s intervention is developing a plan of action. One of the steps that are usually taken when responding to a nurse with substance abuse problem is to identify how the problem affects their performance (“Six Steps to Effectively”, 2016). Organizations should keep an eye out for such issues as absenteeism, failure to meet deadlines, increased errors and waste. Already, some of these issues have been observed in Carrie’s case. For example, the hospital has recorded a 5% increase in medication errors and a worrying increase in waste. These issues are clear indication that Carrie’s substance abuse is impairing her capacity for effective nursing. The other step that should be taken as part of the intervention plan is consulting concerned stakeholders (“Six Steps to Effectively”, 2016). For example, the hospital could engage Carrie’s colleagues in a discussion. The discussion needs to focus on the best approach to addressing Carrie’s case. Since they have worked together, Carrie’s colleagues are best placed to offer helpful suggestions. With the consultations undertaken, the plan should then proceed to approaching the affected nurse and referring her to where she will find treatment (“Six Steps to Effectively”, 2016). When approaching Carrie, extreme caution should be exercised. Many nurses find confronting a colleague with a substance abuse problem to be one of the most daunting tasks. Therefore, to ensure that the intervention proceeds smoothly, the hospital should handle Carrie’s case with caution, care and compassion.
In conclusion, Carrie’s substance abuse problem should worry the hospital. As a result of this problem, her performance has suffered and patients are exposed to grave danger. The hospital has a mandate to respond to Carrie’s problem. It should begin with an examination of its practices and culture. This examination should reveal that the pressure that nurses face force them to turn to drugs. Next, the hospital should institute action to help Carrie. It should explore how her problem affects her performance and refer her for treatment. As it implements these measures, the hospital will be demonstrating its commitment to safeguarding the welfare of such hardworking nurses as Carrie.
References
Davys, A., & Beddoe, L. (2010). Best Practices in Professional Supervision: A Guide for Helping Professionals. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
Monroe, T., & Kenaga, H. (2011). Don’t ask don’t tell: Substance abuse and addiction among Nurses . Journal of Clinical Nursing, 20 (3 ‐ 4), 504-509
Six Steps to Effectively Approach an Employee with a Substance Abuse Problem. (2016). Retrieved May 16, 2018 from
https://edgewoodhealthnetwork.com/six-steps-to-effectively-approach-an-employee-with-a-substance-abuse-problem/
