In this age of increasing headlines about drug addiction and prescription drug abuse, this book is a timely revelation of how the nursing profession is also impacted by substance abuse. It allows nurses, who are the most trusted profession in society, who have been hidden within their profession and living with substance use disorders, to openly voice their personal experiences with addiction. Seven nurses detail their journey through family dynamics, early use as nursing students and later career nurses as they traveled deeper and deeper into their addiction. They discuss their shame, humiliation and dejection under the throes of the compelling forces of drugs and alcohol. They also describe how their family, other nurses, the healthcare system, and society assisted them in perpetuating their deception and denial about their disease. They explain how they lied, stole and cheated those around them to maintain their addiction. Each explains in detail the confrontations and the “jolt” and “wake up call” it took for them to awaken, become sober and truly enter recovery. They are all candid and forthright in order to help others that are impacted by this horrific and complex disease. They each share how recovery is possible when appropriate attitudes and tools are put in place to support nurses suffering from the devastation of addiction. Their stories bring attention to the importance of intervention, treatment, and recovery communities within the nursing profession. Recovery is emphasized as a “gift” by each of these nurses. The nurses and the researcher provide suggestions and recommendations to assist the healthcare community in addressing addiction in nursing. This book reveals how recovery for nurses is a major public health benefit.

This book is about the most common issues that confront a nurse on a daily basis. It can cause him or her heartaches, heartbreaks, and heart troubles. Stress is, by far, in my opinion, a leading cause of heart problems, sickness, and depression in this country. In this book, I talk about awareness in our hospitals, clinics, and emergency departments. Everyone should feel comfortable and be confident of the nurse treating you or your loved ones; we must also remember that nurses are also human beings with issues and problems like everyone else in this world. This book is also a valuable asset to any nursing student considering going to nursing school or college to study medicine.

Substance abuse is a crisis of international concern.Substance Abuse Education in Nursing, Volume IIIexpands upon the content in Volume II, and is particularly suited to the advanced baccalaureate level of education. Volume III offers nurse educators - as well as educators preparing physicians, social workers, teachers, and counselors - the most current information on the recognition and treatment of this tragic disease. As a comprehensive resource, educators will find this book indispensable when updating existing curricula, developing learner objectives, and assessing educational outcomes.Substance Abuse Education in Nursingis reader friendly with easily removable pages for convenient reorganization.

Nurses are acknowledged as key agents in addressing alcohol and drug misuse at individual, family, and community levels. Addiction nursing is central to the assessment, management, and care of people with problematic use of psychoactive substances (both legal and illegal). Work takes place in a wide range of settings, from traditional hospital clinics and wards to community locations such as police custody suites and needle exchange facilities. Addiction for Nurses is a comprehensive textbook for students, explaining the role of the nurse at each stage of intervention. Early chapters approach the subject from sociological, historical, and cultural perspectives, covering significant topics such as the nature of addiction, its social context, and addiction theory. The book then presents vital information about each of the main areas of addiction (nicotine, alcohol, opiates, cannabis, psychostimulants, and hallucinogens) with clinical and practical guidance on recognition, assessment, and treatment intervention strategies. Further chapters consider dealing with emergencies, blood-borne viruses, harm reduction, and work with specific client groups (for instance, black and ethnic minority communities, or those with special needs). This book is an essential resource for all those who come into contact with alcohol and drug misusers and for specialist addiction nurses preparing for practice in this complex and rewarding field.