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.

"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.

People do not set out to become addicts. They start to use the drug or medication for a purpose. Maybe it is to relieve pain or to be social. As they continue to use, they cross a line. Crossing this line means that the body and mind have adjusted to having this chemical present. When this chemical is not present, an intense craving takes place which often leads the person to use again. Addiction has become more common in our society and it is time for nurses to respond. This book serves as a resource for any nurse who is interested in assisting patients who are trying to stop using/abusing a drug. It is time for all nurses to rise to the occasion and learn about this growing problem.

1995. 528 pp., illustrated

This book is a must-have personal recovery compass for nurses traveling from addiction to professional reentry. Authors Karolyn Crowley and Carrie Morgan take nurses step by step through challenges, including licensing, legal, and monitoring issues; shame and loss of professional standing; triggers; and workplace stressors. Crowley and Morgan provide nurses with the knowledge, tools, and courage to overcome their disorder and successfully reenter the nursing profession.