Conference Proceedings - School of Nursing & Midwifery - Trinity ...

School of Nursing & Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin: 8 th Annual Interdisciplinary Research Conference
Transforming Healthcare Through Research, Education & Technology: 7 th – 9 th November 2007
Conference Proceedings
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AN INVESTIGATION OF PATTERN MANIFESTATIONS IN
SUBSTANCE ABUSE IMPAIRED NURSES
M. M. West DNSc, RN
Assistant Dean and Associate Professor
Thomas Jefferson University
Jefferson School of Nursing
Nursing Education Center
Geisinger Medical Center
100 North Academy Avenue
Danville, PA 17872-0403
Office: 570-271-8008
Fax: 570-271-5657
Substance abuse impairment is a problem in nursing which affects
both the profession and society. Many nurses who become
impaired are not identified until symptoms are very apparent and
patients are at risk. The purposes of this study are to investigate
early risk factors that lead to substance abuse impairment, and to
predict group membership between impaired (SI) and non-impaired
(NSI) registered nurses based on those identified risk factors.
The theoretical framework for this study is a synthesis of Donovan’s
multifactorial model of impairment, and Rogers’Science of Unitary
Human Beings. Donovan’s model explains varying patterns of
impairment development. Although individuals may have common
characteristics, they vary in development, progression, and severity
of impairment. There is a dynamic relationship among the many
dimensions and manifestations of impairment. Rogers’ model
explains concepts of wholeness, patterning, human and
environmental fields, and mutual process that occur with individuals
as different manifestation patterns emerge. Once pattern
manifestations are identified and understood, the focus can be on
changing the pattern of the field toward health and healing.
Data was gathered from 100 previously impaired and 100 nonimpaired
nurses. Nurses were found from on-line nursing chat
rooms and listserves. Mailing addresses were received from nurses
who would like to participate and questionnaires were mailed to
their addresses. Three questionnaires were used in the study: the
Zuckerman Sensation Seeking Scale, the Efinger Alcohol Risk
Survey, and the Children of Alcoholics Screening Test. The CAGE
questionnaire was used for the non-impaired nurses as a screening
tool to evaluate whether they are non-impaired, as defined in the
study.
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