RECOVERING NURSES' PERCEPTIONS OF JOB RE-ENTRY (CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY, RELAPSE, ALCOHOLISM).
Contributors: Louisiana State University Medical Ctr. In New Orleans, S. Of Nursing.
Published: 1990
Number of pages: 148
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: This study investigated the process of job re-entry as perceived by recovering chemically dependent nurses. A grounded theory approach was used. Sixteen recovering chemically dependent nurses were interviewed about their re-entry into active nursing. Two non-chemically dependent nurses were interviewed for comparison. Data from recovering nurses revealed that the process of job re-entry consists of five processes: (a) Returning to a Job/Getting Hired, (b) Being Honest, (c) Anticipating Rejection/Being Accepted, (d) Encountering Stress, and (e) Successfully Coping or Heading Toward Relapse.

For the recovering nurse, the first step in job re-entry is Returning to a Job/Getting Hired. Returning to a job occurs when the nurse is able to handle the feelings associated with returning to familiar surroundings. Those nurses unable to return to a former position are faced with getting a new one.

Once recovering nurses re-enter nursing, they are faced with making decisions about being honest about their chemical dependency. This includes being honest with colleagues, supervisors, and patients as well as being honest with themselves. Once recovering nurses risk being honest, they anticipate being rejected; but, instead, find they are accepted by others.

An integral part of job re-entry is Encountering Stress which consists of five components: (a) Facing the Consequences, (b) Being in a Double Bind, (c) Juggling, (d) Living Under a Microscope, and (e) Facing Reality.

Recovering nurses indicate they can successfully cope with the stress of job re-entry by Relearning, Working their Program, Reaching Out (to others), and Finding Someone There. Nurses who are not successful at coping with the stresses find themselves Heading Toward Relapse. Indicators that chemically dependent nurses are moving in that direction are Cutting Corners, Playing with Fire and Finding No One There.

Identification of the processes associated with recovering nurses' job re-entry does have implications for nursing practice. The implications include (a) identification of nurse managers' need for more knowledge regarding chemical dependency, (b) development of better methods to coordinate aftercare expectations for the recovering nurse, and (c) the need to conduct further research regarding job re-entry.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 52-04, Section: B, page: 1953.

Thesis (D.N.S.)--LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CTR. IN NEW ORLEANS, S. OF NURSING, 1990.

School code: 1053.