ANA Resolution

ANA Resolution

Originally drafted at the International Conference on the Addicted Nurse

Announcement for Websites and Newsletters

A CALL TO ACTION: The following resolution reflects the efforts of many nurses working in peer assistance all across our country. The intent of this activity was to bring about continuity of approaches and fairness so that ALL nurses, regardless of geographic location, would be offered advocacy. It has taken years to get to this resolution process after much networking and now WE NEED YOU, to encourage YOUR state nurses association's delegates to the ANA House of Delegates to support his resolution. They will be the voting members who decide whether this resolution is adopted or rejected. Since it IS based on the initial resolution of 1982 by the ANA our hope is that it will be accepted. However, it is not a given. The reason the signatory organizations have brought this resolution is because we feel we need to unite as ONE voice, behind ONE national organization with broad membership to have the desired effect to bring about change in EVERY state. As you know many states still have no alternatives to discipline and/or no advocacy for nurses. The only effective way to encourage ALL state regulatory boards to consider changing is to bring about sufficient demonstration of the success of those programs that do offer alternatives and to have a united voice. Please get this message to all nurses through your state newsletters, websites, meetings and support groups. It is the broadest reaching attempt to bring about nursing advocacy in two decades and long overdue.

GIVE YOUR FAVORABLE OPINION ON THIS RESOLUTION TO THE NURSES WHO ARE YOUR REPRESENTATIVES FROM YOUR STATE NURSES ASSOCIATION WHO WILL BE THE VOTING MEMBERS AT THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES IN JUNE.

ENCOURAGE THEM TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS RESOLUTION. IF IT IS PASSED IT WILL THEN BE A MANDATE FOR ANA TO ENCOURAGE ALL STATES TO HAVE AN ADVOCACY-BASED ALTERNATIVE FOR NURSES. THIS WILL ALSO MEAN THE URGING OF LEGISLATION TO DEVELOP ALTERNATIVE PROGRAMS IN THOSE STATES WITHOUT ANY. LET YOUR REPRESENTATIVE KNOW IT IS THE HUMANE WAY TO TREAT A DISEASE, OUTCOME STUDIES HAVE DOCUMENTED IT IS THE SAFER THAN TRADITIONAL DISCIPLINE SINCE NURSES REMOVE THEMSELVES FROM THE WORKPLACE SOONER, REENTER SOONER, RECEIVE APPROPRIATE MONITORING AND MORE ARE RETAINED IN PRACTICE. IN THIS TIME OF ACUTE NATIONAL NURSING SHORTAGE, THIS IS ANOTHER MAJOR REASON TO TREAT AND RETAIN THOSE NURSES WILLING TO VOLUNTARILY SUBMIT TO MONITORING WITHIN AN ALTERNATIVE PROGRAM. For more information contact peerassist@aol.com

RESOLUTION before the ANA House of Delegates, Philadelphia, PA, June, 2002

(As submitted in its final form)

SUBJECT: Reaffirming the Profession's Response to the Problem of Addictions and Psychological Dysfunctions in Nursing

RELEVANT CORE ISSUE: Nursing shortage, workplace advocacy

INTRODUCED BY: K. Lynn Wieck, RN, PhD., President, Texas Nurses Association on behalf of the signatory organizations.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: A changing workplace, multi-state compacts, and decreased access to reimbursed treatment programs for the nurses with addiction or psychiatric disorders creates a heightened need to readdress the lack of universal alternative-to-discipline programs. To maintain standards of the profession and a sufficient workplace, ANA should advocate for comprehensive and consistent access to alternative-to-discipline programs for nurses with addictions or psychiatric disorder. This report addresses the preservation of the health and professional practice of nurses with addiction and/or psychiatric illness.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

WHEREAS, substance abuse, the number one preventable national health problem, occurs among registered nurses at rates at least similar to those reported in the general population; and,

WHEREAS, education promotes the early identification of, intervention with, and treatment of, persons, including registered nurses, who experience addiction and psychiatric disorders; and,

WHEREAS, treatment is effective in reducing drug use, deterioration of health, improved social and occupational function; and,

WHEREAS, nurse employment policies and procedures supportive of alternative-to-discipline programs result in improved employee job function and return and retention of nurses to the workforce; and,

WHEREAS, the American Nurse's Association Code of Ethics for Nurses mandates workplace advocacy and promotion of nurses' well-being; and,

WHEREAS, society's health needs require the preparation, support and retention of a healthy workforce; and,

WHEREAS, in ten states, nurses do not have access to programs that provide alternatives to discipline during recovery; and,

WHEREAS, the development of multi-state licensure compacts underscores the need for consistent availability of alternative-to-discipline programs across all jurisdictions; and,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the American Nurse Association will:

Support efforts to educate the public and professional nurses on the prevalence of addiction and psychiatric disorders as diseases for which society and registered nurses are at risk.

Seek to preserve the current and future workforce by promoting awareness of impaired practice, its prevalence, management and implications for public safety and well-being.

Increase awareness of the health and patient safety risks associated with untreated addiction and psychiatric illness.

Promote member and affiliate actions that encourage the development and use of alternatives to discipline for health professionals in those states where they currently do not exist.

Support expansion of peer assistance to include professional nursing students.

Support efforts by United American Nurses and the Commission on Workplace Advocacy to advocate for the retention of nurses who experience addiction and psychiatric disorders.

REPORT:

In 1980 the Ohio State Nurses Association introduced the resolution "Peer Assistance Program for Nurses Impaired by Illness or Chemical Dependency" to the American Nurses Association's (ANA) House of Delegates. The resolution, along with an overview to the problem and a model for planning and change to help guide organizations, was provided in ANA's 1984 monograph: "Addictions and Psychological Dysfunctions in Nursing: The Profession's Response to the Problem," (American Nurses Association, 1984)

Since that time, "alternatives to discipline" programs, offering comprehensive monitoring and support services to reasonably assure safe practice, maintenance of nursing standards and rehabilitation of the nurses, have been developed in many states. These are used by regulatory agencies, often collaboratively with nursing organizations, schools of nursing and state boards for nursing, to offer non-public management of the nurses' treatment and monitoring for safe practice. This approach has been demonstrated to be equal in effectiveness to the disciplinary process in protecting public safety and promoting rehabilitation and maintenance of health for nurses. (Yocom & Haack, 1996) National nursing organizations and national accrediting bodies advocate for alternatives to discipline. (National Council of State Boards of Nursing, 1994) (International Nurses Society on Addictions, 1997) (American Association of Nurse Anesthetist 1997) (National Organization of Alternative Programs, 2001) (Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, 2001)

Since ANA last reviewed this position, changing workplace conditions (US General Accounting Office, 2001) (American Hospital Association, 2002) and resources have resulted in the increased need/risk, decreased access to treatment options, and fewer treatment related policies for nurse employees. (ANA, 1984) Parity or health insurance benefits for the treatment of behavioral health problems remains unavailable. Therefore the decreasing availability of reimbursed treatment makes it even more important that nurses have access to alternative-to-discipline programs.

In 2002, at least ten states have not implemented programs providing alternatives to discipline. Emerging multi-state compacts are resulting in the need for nurses to have access, across jurisdictions, to consistent and comprehensive care and monitoring via alternative-to-discipline programs (Van Doren & Bowling, 2002) and protection of public safety.

In keeping with the intent of the Action on Alcohol and Drug Misuse and Psychological Dysfunctions Among Nurses, (ANA House of Delegates, 1982), this report seeks renewed commitments to the support of activities that improve nurses' access to alternative-to-discipline programs.

In preparing this report, the submitters relied on input and support from the Florida Nurses Association, the Massachusetts Association of Registered Nurses, the New York State Nurses Association, American Association of Nurse Anesthetists, National Consortium of Chemical Dependency Nurses, International Nurse Society on Addictions, and the National Organization of Alternative Programs.

References:

American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (1997). AANA Position Statement 1.7, Chemical Dependency

American Hospital Association (2002). In Our Hands: How Hospital Leaders Can Build A Thriving Workforce. AHA Commission on Workforce for Hospitals and Health Systems.

Washington, DC: Author American Nurses Association (1984). Addictions and psychological dysfunctions in nursing: The professions response to the problem. Kansas City, MO: ANA, 1984:2

International Nurses Society on Addictions (1997). Peer assistance. Position paper.

Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (2001). Physician Health standard MS.2.6. JCAHO: Hospital accreditation standards.

National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc. (1994). Model Guidelines: A nondisciplinary alternative program for chemically impaired nurses. Chicago.

National Organization of Alternative Programs (2001). Mission statement, National Organization of Alternative Program's By-Laws.

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. (2002, February). Substance abuse: The nation's number one health problem: Key indicators for policy - update. Prepared by the Schneider Institute for Health Policy, Brandeis University.

U.S. General Accounting Office, (2001). Nursing Workforce: Emerging Nurse Shortage Due to Multiple Factors (GAO-01-944). Washington, DC: Author.

Yocom, C.J. & Haack M.R., (1996). An Interim Report: A Comparison of Two Regulatory Approaches to the Management of Chemically Impaired Nurses. (Available from the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, 676 North St. Clair Street, Ste. 550, Chicago, IL, 60611-2921)

Van Doren, M. and Bowling, C. (2002, January). Cost savings realized by Baylor University Medical Center with RNs in an alternative to discipline program. Paper presented at the meeting of the National Organization of Alternative Programs, San Antonio, TX.

Past House Action (s):

1991 Position Statement on Abuse of Prescription Drugs

1990 Resources for the Treatment of Drug Addiction

1982 Action on Alcohol and Drug Misuse and Psychological Dysfunctions Among Nurses Relation to ANA Goals/Priorities __X___ II. ANA and the CMAs will continue to be strong and effective in advancing the profession through their multi-purpose strategies at the state, national, and international levels.

Proposed Implementation Activities:

Collaborate with nursing education organizations, the National Student Nurses Association, and CMAs to make peer assistance programs available to professional nursing students.

Collaborate with education organizations and the NSNA to increase awareness of health risks and patient safety risks association with untreated addiction and psychiatric illness.

ANA support initiatives by CMAs and national nursing organizations, including NSNA and NCSBN, to promote uniform alternative to discipline programs in all states by 2010

Collaborate with CMAs, national nursing organizations, along with state and federal legislators to support passage of a federal law that will provide full parity for behavioral health care including treatment of substance abuse and dependency.