It is unfortunate that drug and substance abuse has now encroached into many working places, healthcare setting included. The fight against drug and substance abuse seems far from over even as many countries now join hands to help in eradicating this menace. The statistic from the World Health Organization WHO in the year 2015 revealed that about 40% of the staffs in the working places now use drugs. The nurses are coming second after the police department in this case. According to the same statistics, “about 1 in 10, or 10-15% of all nurses, may be impaired or in recovery from alcohol or drug addiction” (Gärtner et al., 2012). The sole reason for this high prevalence of the impaired nurses in the hospital is the fact that most of them have ready access to the drugs in their working environment. This is a matter which needs attention and must be addressed at all cost due to its implication and side effects both to the nurses and the patients in the entire world. The author of this article, therefore, focuses on the impaired nurses. The author will major on reasons why this matter is essential in the working place. The author will also examine how resources to address this issue can be lobbied from the government and how this information can be used in the healthcare setting. By the end of this paper, therefore, the reader would be able to have a brief view on the topics mentioned above.
Why Impaired nurse?
Nurses are a critical individual in the current society. They have direct contact with the patients in the hospital. The role played by the nurse is very crucial in the hospital setting. This, therefore, means that any matter which affects the nurses negatively, affect the patients in that particular environment directly. The author has chosen to address this topic due to its importance in the healthcare setting, and the entire community. It should be noted that addiction is considered as a disorder and must be addressed. It would be naïve to ignore that fact that addicted nurse may not be able to perform his or her nursing role correctly. The author, therefore, holds a view that Impaired nurse is a danger to the patient, the nurse, community and the hospital itself ( Gärtner et al., 2012). First, nurse risk mishandling the patients unknowingly and this may lead to the death of the patient. Alternatively, it may lead to the severity of the patients' condition in case there is a wrong diagnosis. To the nurse, this is a significant threat to their health and their profession. Such kind of nurses often has an issue with their health condition due to the effect of the drugs used. Furthermore, such particular nurse also risks losing his or her job in case the situation worsens off.
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To the community, these nurses are a threat to the rate of death due to mishandling of the patients. It should be known that the nurses too come from the community and they serve the community; an impaired nurse may not be beneficial or be able to help his or her community well, they may end up dying due to drug disorder, and this is a significant loss to the community. The hospitals where such particular nurses work are also not safe. The image of the hospital is always painted black in case any issue of patient negligence or mistreatment occurs. This may make the hospital fall short of favor in the community. Moreover, the hospital risks facing legal issues in case the patient or relative report any negligence case from the nurse. Lastly, the cost of treatments of this particular nurse is not always appealing. These are the sole reasons why the author of this article holds a view that this topic needs to be addressed thoroughly to avoid this kind of mess in the healthcare sector and the entire community.
Lobbying for funds to handle impaired
Why lobby
“Lobbying is simply communicating your views on local, state, or national policy issues to your elected officials in a timely and effective manner” ( Monroe & Kenaga, 2011). “Substance abuse is costly to the individual nurse, their friends and families, and healthcare organizations regarding the loss of income, health, and relationships, and diminished quality of care provided to patients". This is the sole reason why this kind of issue needs to address to ensure that the nurses do not incur such kind of cost. However, it has been noted that "Substance-abusing nurses most likely will not seek treatment until confronted by peers, family, or nursing management, or their employment is in jeopardy” ( Monroe & Kenaga, 2011). However, there is hop since statistics from the Center for Disease and Control reveals that "those who enter and complete structured treatment programs can be successful and reenter the profession of nursing". Those nurses who seek treatments according to CDC achieve full recover since “treatment can be effective in reducing substance use and improve health, social, and occupational well-being.” one of the major issues which hospitals find themselves entangled with while handling this situation is inadequate resources. Currently, WHO reveals that only “37 states offer some form of a substance abuse treatment program to direct nurses to treatment, monitor their re-entry to work, and continue their license according to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing”. The treatments programs and the rehabilitation process are very challenging economically since “strong recovery programs offer a comprehensive, bio-behavioral, individualized treatment plan. The phases include in-treatment or outpatient detoxification in a safe environment; education about the disease; group, individual, and family therapy; and most important a relapse prevention program” ( Monroe & Kenaga, 2011).
However, there is hope since the national and states governments always avail funds for such programs which are geared towards ensuring that healthcare delivery meets quality expected. Moreover, “The American Nurses Association (ANA) is a strong supporter of alternative or peer assistance programs that monitor and support safe rehabilitation and the eventual return to the professional workforce” The goal of the government is for such kind of nurse to “seek treatment, reach recovery, and re-enter the workforce.” This means that hospital needs to lobby for funds from the government or the local authorities to help in covering the cost of treatments for the impaired nurses (Chalmers, 2013).
According to the author of this article, impaired nurse as already noted is a grave matter in the community. However, it has been indicated in this article that with a proper strategy, this issue can handle and that full recovery can be achieved. Already, many plans are on the way to roll on a program to help in catering to it; however, more resources are still in need to ensure that it is well covered. Lobbying for funds, therefore, is one option which can help in providing that more support is available to address the issue of impaired nurse and reduce its impact on the society.
How to lobby
For the hospital or private individual in the U.S, many means are available which can be used to lobby for funds and support to help in handling this issue. In this case, the author will use one of the following, telephones calls; letters can also be used, face to face communication, emails and much more. It should be known to the lobbyist that the more time they try to reach the leaders they more their chances of success ( Chalmers, 2013). In case the author fails to meet the real leader whom they targeted, the settling for their assistant is as vital as their central leaders. The author, in this case, will "meet legislators either in Washington, DC or in their local office by contacting the scheduler through the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask for the senator's and representative's office". What is important in this case is that the author or the lobbyist should limit agenda to the resources which can be used to help the impaired nurses. The author will have in mind that they may have many agenda, yet too much of it may be poisonous and bring about confusion to their leaders. For this reason, author will need to be precise and address the point. In this case, “it is also a good idea to have a printed fact sheet per issue that you can leave with the legislator. Make sure to have copies for the legislative assistants and other staff members who often attend such meetings.” the author will ensure that he/she have the right documents which are very relevant to the topic of discussion. Most of the time, the leaders usually speak through the telephone. The author will ensure that they prepare the reasons why they are calling and be ready to articulate their points in the best manner possible. ‘
Lobbying can also be done through the use of the letters to the Congress or any leader. Letters are considered a better form of communicating the idea of asking for the resources from the leaders. In fact, they are best when there is no time for the lobbyist. In the case where the letter is used, the author "suggests that your purpose for writing should be stated in the first paragraph of the letter and you should identify the specific bill or piece of legislation up-front". In general, the author of this article proposes the following tips for better and lobbying for the resources to support the impaired nurses ( Woll, 2013). Whether the letter or meeting is used, it shall be kept short and brief, the phrase Thank You must be included, pre-visit is very important, and appreciation even is the answer is no.
Impotence in the hospital
This material is essential in the healthcare setting. The healthcare setting is the most affected in case there have a good number of impaired nurses. This information can be used by the hospital administration to lobby for resources to help them address any issue related to this topic. This information can also be used be the hospital to support the need for the resources to help in treatments and recovery of the impaired nurses. It gives them a clue on what method to use when lobbying for funds. It also gives them a hint on the manner in which this process can be done. Lastly, this information is very critical in the hospital setting since it provides the hospital management with a clue on the need of being concerned with this issue ( Gärtner et al., 2012).
Conclusion
In conclusion, the author has tried to elaborate the importance of lobbying for funds to help in addressing the issue of impaired nurses. The author has also shown methods which the hospital administration or any other individual interested in addressing the issue of impaired nurses can use to lobby for the resources from the Federal or sates governments help. The author, therefore, concludes that due to the adverse implication the impaired nurse has to the hospital and general community, it is necessary for them to lobby funds using the right channels to help in addressing this issue.
References
Chalmers, A. W. (2013). Regional authority, transnational lobbying and the allocation of structural funds in the European Union. JCMS: Journal of Common Market Studies , 51 (5), 815-831.
Gärtner, F. R., Nieuwenhuijsen, K., van Dijk, F. J., & Sluiter, J. K. (2012). Impaired work functioning due to common mental disorders in nurses and allied health professionals: the Nurses Work Functioning Questionnaire. International archives of occupational and environmental health , 85 (2), 125-138.
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.
Woll, C. (2013). Lobbying under pressure: the effect of salience on the European Union hedge fund regulation. JCMS: Journal of Common Market Studies , 51 (3), 555-572.
