ATTITUDES OF NURSES TOWARD SUBSTANCE ABUSE IN NURSING AND IN THE GENERAL POPULATION (IMPAIRED NURSES).
Contributors: Pennsylvania State University.
Published: 1994
Number of pages: 198
Subjects: Education, Health.; Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: The purpose of this study was to assess the attitudes of registered nurses in Pennsylvania toward substance abuse among nurses and within the general population. Data were collected from a random sample of 452 nurses that resided in Pennsylvania and belonged to the Pennsylvania Nurses Association. A three-part questionnaire consisting of the Substance Abuse Attitude Survey, Perceptions of Nursing Impairment Inventory, and demographic items was used. Data were analyzed using frequencies, factor analysis, chi square, and multiple regression.

Factor analysis of the Substance Abuse Attitude Survey produced four factors: Liberalism, Pessimism, Opinionated, and Treatment Perspective. This differed from the original survey, which contained five factors. Factor analysis of the Perceptions of Nursing Impairment Inventory yielded three factors: Perception of Nursing Impairment, Disciplinary Orientation, and Helping Orientation. This differed from the original inventory, which contained nine factors. The current seven factors were the dependent variables for the study. The demographic characteristics were the independent variables.

Nurses who participated in the study held positive attitudes toward substance abusing people and toward substance abusing nurses. Nurses felt that substance abuse was an illness, not a weakness, and were supportive of treatment of substance abuse problems. As a group, nurses were aware of the prevalence of substance abuse in nursing. Respondents also seemed to reflect an obligation to assist impaired coworkers and did not favor disciplinary measures.

Seven characteristics were identified through multiple regression and chi-square analysis to have significant differences in regard to attitudes of nurses toward substance abuse within the general population: age, type of basic nursing education, highest level of education, clinical practice area, job category, substance abuse education from the basic nursing program, and continuing education hours about substance abuse. Using multiple regression analysis within the Perception of Nursing Impairment Inventory, three characteristics revealed significant differences: nurses' highest level of education, length of experience in nursing, and the nurses' job category.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 56-02, Section: A, page: 0468.

Thesis (PH.D.)--THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY, 1994.

School code: 0176.