Recognizing Impairment in the Workplace Nursing CE Course

After this activity, the nurse should be prepared to:

• Recognize the statistics regarding substance use disorder (SUD) in the United States and among health care providers specifically
• Discuss the identified risk factors and effective methods for preventing SUD
• Highlight the indicators of SUD and drug diversion that a health care provider should be watchful for in the workplace
• Clarify the professional, ethical, and personal responsibilities of a nurse with concerns regarding the potential impairment of a coworker
• Briefly review the investigation and intervention steps that should occur when substance abuse is suspected in a health care provider
• Describe the diagnostic criteria and the treatment options available to health care providers diagnosed with SUD, including alternative-to-discipline programs (ATDs or ADPs), residential programs, and outpatient programs
• Discuss the return-to-work procedures for health care providers diagnosed with SUD