Many experts said that the old programs if there were any usually made it impossible to turn in a nurse, for fear of recriminations or lawsuits, or the fear of ruining someone s life. More recent efforts make it easier to put people into treatment, rather than firing them or ignoring the problem. Indiana s program, modeled after others in the United States, requires nurses with drug problems to stop practicing and enter a 12-step treatment program. Nurses enter a continuing care contract with the program, which only monitors them. The terms of the contract at first require three AA or NA meetings a week and a nurse support group.
Nurses also submit to random drug testing.
If he or she is an alcoholic, the nurse is not allowed to perform patient care or handle controlled substances for six months. If the nurse has abused substances other than alcohol, the ban lasts a year. Also, nurses in treatment cannot involve themselves in stressful situations such as ICU, obstetrics or postop. Besides the shame involved, nurses may avoid treatment for other reasons. For one thing, it s expensive.