Abstract

Substance abuse impairment in nursing is a problem affecting both the profession and society. Many impaired nurses are not identified until symptoms are very apparent and patients are at risk. The purposes of this study were to investigate early risk factors that lead to substance abuse impairment, and to predict group membership between impaired (SI) and non-impaired (NSI) registered nurses. The theoretical framework for this study was a synthesis of Donovan's multifactorial model of impairment (Donovan, 1986), and Rogers' (1970, 1992) Science of Unitary Human Beings. Data was gathered from 100 previously impaired (SI) and 100 non-impaired nurses (NSI). Nurses were found through the Internet. Three questionnaires were used: the Zuckerman Sensation Seeking Scale (SSS) (Zuckerman, 1974), the Efinger Alcohol Risk Survey (EARS) (Efinger, 1984), and the Children of Alcoholics Screening Test (CAST) (Jones, 1981). The CAGE questionnaire (Ewing, 1984) was used only for the NSI nurses as a screening tool to evaluate whether they were non-impaired, as defined in the study. Pearson's correlations demonstrated a significant relationship between scores on the EARS and SSS (r = .37, p = .01), and the EARS and CAST (r = .51, p = .01) for the SI nurses. For the NSI nurses, Pearson's correlations demonstrated a significant relationship only between scores on the EARS and CAST instruments (r = .31, p = .01). Independent t-test scores demonstrated the groups differed significantly on all three of the instrument total scores (SSS: t = 8.30, df = 181.6, p = .001) (EARS: t = 18.71, df = 182.1, p = .001) (CAST: t = 7.91, df = 185.7, p = .001). Discriminant analysis indicated a correct prediction of 87% for SI membership and 95% for NSI membership, with an overall rate of 91%. EARS scores had the strongest correlation (.99) and was the best predictor of group membership, followed by SSS (.44) and CAST (.42) scores. The results indicated that the three variables can be used to identify early risk factors for substance abuse impairment. Identification of nurses at risk for impairment will allow for earlier intervention and possible prevention. Methods to reduce the number of modifiable risk factors are recommended.

Description

This dissertation has also been disseminated through the ProQuest Dissertations and Theses database. Dissertation/thesis number: 9977066; ProQuest document ID: 304667761. The author still retains copyright.

Author Details

Dr. Margaret M. West, PhD, RN

Sigma Membership

Theta Phi

Type

Dissertation

Format Type

Text-based Document

Study Design/Type

Descriptive/Correlational

Research Approach

Quantitative Research

Keywords:

Drug Use, Addicted Nurses, Patterns

Advisors

Allen, Lois R.

Degree

Doctoral-Other

Degree Grantor

Widener University

Degree Year

2000

Rights Holder

All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record.

All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository.

All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.

Review Type

None: Degree-based Submission

Acquisition

Proxy-submission

Date of Issue

2020-07-16

Full Text of Presentation

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