Dissertation
A wake-up call to recovery: drug abuse and its effect on registered nurses : a narrative study
Doctor of Education (Ed.D.), Drexel University
May 2017
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/etd-7790
Abstract
"You are as close to a miracle as you are to a tragedy. I wanted to be a miracle and not a tragedy." (Jasmine Jade) Recovery for nurses is vital to the health of society and is considered a gift by those nurses who have experienced the devastation of drug addiction and its consequences. There is a great illusion in society and among nurses themselves that they are immune to addiction. Throughout history, the nursing profession has been identified as one of the most trusted professions in society, yet studies have concluded that out of the estimated 2.8 million nurses currently working in the U.S., 10% to 20% (280,000 to 560,000) of those working in the nursing profession have experiences with substance use disorders. This is a serious issue, as nurses with substance use disorders are the most hidden population in society and place patients at risk. This narrative study gives voice to nurses who are in recovery and who were willing to share information regarding their journey to recovery and the impact substance use has had on their personal and professional lives. It illuminates nurses' experiences and provides information regarding their own understanding of their personal risks for substance abuse and how the systems of support within their healthcare settings helped them address their substance abuse issues. Seven registered nurses in California who were in recovery for a minimum of two years agreed to participate in multiple face-to-face interviews. The interviews were transcribed, coded, and organized using Atlas.ti (qualitative software). The data were analyzed, and findings and interpretations from the participants' voices aligned with the conceptual framework, guided by the research questions, emerged into five themes: (a) family dynamics and patterns; (b) substance use disorders in nurse education and within the nurse profession; (c) illusions and secrets of the nurse professional; (d) confrontational "crisis" and the "wake-up call;" and (e) recovery, spiritual awakenings and recovery communities. Major findings within the research reveal serious inadequacies within the nursing profession for identifying, intervening, and supporting nurses with substance use disorders. The findings also underscore the impact recovery communities have on nurses who have major risks factors for substance abuse. Nurses need a critical wake-up-call to jolt them from addiction to sobriety. This jolt can provide them with the clarity needed to embrace treatment and ultimately recovery. Recommendations are outlined for educators, administrators, and other policymakers about increasing awareness, public safety, and training to identify and support nurses with substance use disorders. Recovery community support is vital, as it provides the connections and lifestyle change needed to enable a nurse to maintain his or her sobriety and develop into a healthy, productive member of the healthcare community.
Metrics
64 File views/ downloads
73 Record Views
Details
- Title
- A wake-up call to recovery
- Creators
- Carol Ann Stanford - DU
- Contributors
- Kathy Dee Geller (Advisor) - Drexel University (1970-)
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Number of pages
- xvii, 113 pages
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- School of Education (1997-2026); Drexel University
- Other Identifier
- 7790; 991014632595804721