Topic Selected is: Nursing Staffing and Patient Safety: Shiftwork
Assignment Directions
Begin by selecting a topic in nursing that is of interest to you. Next, use PICOT to format a possible research question about that topic. Provide 1 possible PICOT research question. Find 1 quantitative or qualitative peer-reviewed research article related to your nursing topic that was published within the last 5 years. Reminder: All peer-reviewed research articles have methods, discussion, and results sections. Upload the article with your paper in PDF or Word format. This source can be used again in the Week 4 article assignment if it meets the criteria.
See PICOT Formatting Guide or pages 249-257 in your book for additional help with formatting your PICOT.
Include the following:
Title page
Provide a brief description of the topic and background information (see page 37 of your textbook). You can use your text, your peer-reviewed journal source, or thein EBP Care Sheet CINAHL or Nursing Reference Center Database.
Explain the significance of the topic to nursing practice (see chart on page 37 of your textbook). Background information can be found in journal articles in the introduction section. Results and conclusions will speak to significance of the topic. The EBP care sheets may have sources for you to choose from.
EVIDENCEBASED CARE
SHEET
Nurse Staffing and Patient Safety: Shiftwork
What We Know
The World Health Organization defines patient safety as prevention of errors and adverse
effects to patients associated with health care(22)
According to the Institute of Medicine report Crossing the Quality Chasm, which
contains a strategy and action plan for achieving a better healthcare system, safety is
the most important of six dimensions (also referred to as aims for improvement) in
the delivery of health care; the other five dimensionswhich are to provide effective,
patient-centered, timely, efficient, and equitable careare not possible without the initial
provision of safe health care(10)
There is a strong relationship between nursing staffing, including both the number of
nurses and the mix of competent nurses, and patient safety(6,7,9,11,12,15,17,21)
A number of states in the United States have initiated steps for legislating mandatory
licensed nursing staff requirements, and mandatory staffing ratios for hospitals and
long-term care facilities have been in effect in California since 2004(12,15)
Although some inpatient deaths are clearly unavoidable, increasing nurse-staffing
ratios may prevent some of these deaths. Researchers have observed a dose-response
relationship between nurse staffing levels and risk of patient death(17)
Authors of a 2007 systematic review and meta-analysis drew the following
Authors
Hillary Mennella, DNP, ANCC-BC
Cinahl Information Systems, Glendale, CA
Arsi L. Karakashian, RN, BSN
Armenian American Medical Society of
California
Reviewers
Debra Balderrama, RN, MSCIS
Clinical Informatics Services, Tujunga, CA
Sara Richards, MSN, RN
Cinahl Information Systems, Glendale, CA
Nursing Executive Practice Council
Glendale Adventist Medical Center,
Glendale, CA
Editor
Diane Pravikoff, RN, PhD, FAAN
Cinahl Information Systems, Glendale, CA
conclusions:(11)
– The average patient-nurse ratio was 3.0:1 in the ICU setting, 4.0:1 in the surgical unit
setting, and 4.4:1 in the medical unit setting
– Higher RN staffing was associated with lower hospital-related mortality. Each
additional RN full-time equivalent per day was associated with a 9% reduction in
the odds of death in the ICU, a 16% reduction in the surgical unit setting, and a 6%
reduction in the medical unit setting
– Higher RN staffing levels were associated with lower rates of healthcare-associated
pneumonia, failure to rescue, and healthcare-associated bloodstream infections(11)
Findings from studies since 2007 are consistent regarding the link between nursing staff
levels and patient mortality as well as with other patient outcomes(6,7,9,15,21)
Researchers in a 2012 study of 9,054 patients who underwent coronary artery bypass
graft surgery or a heart valve procedure in 28 Belgian acute care hospitals reported
that higher nurse staffing levels in postoperative general nursing cardiac units were
associated with reduced incidence of inpatient mortality and unplanned readmissions(6)
– The researchers subsequently concluded that increasing nurse staffing levels to
the 75th percentile in Belgian postoperative general nursing cardiac units was a
cost-effective intervention. They estimated that the increase in staffing levels would
cost an estimated 1,211,022, result in the prevention of 45.9 deaths per year, and
generate an annual gain of 458.86 life-years, which corresponds to 26,372 for each
death avoided and 2,639 for each life-year gained(21)
Investigators who conducted a study of 13 military hospitals in the U.S. found that total
nursing care hours, level of nursing experience, and RN skill mix were significantly
June 30, 2017
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or information given herein or errors/omissions in the text. It is merely intended as a general informational overview of the subject for the healthcare
professional. Cinahl Information Systems, 1509 Wilson Terrace, Glendale, CA 91206
associated with shift-specific adverse events, including patient falls and medication
errors(15)
In a retrospective study of data from administrative databases at one hospital containing 801 weekly staffing intervals
and 31,080 patient observations, researchers found that increasing the number of RN hours and decreasing or eliminating
licensed practical nurse (LPN) hours reduced medication errors; each one hour increase in RN hours per equivalent
patient day (HPEqPD) resulted in a 0.16% decrease in risk of medication error; and each one hour increase in LPN
HPEqPD increased the likelihood of mediation error by 3%(7)
Researchers who studied nurse staffing and patient outcomes in Finland and the Netherlands found that
patient-nurseratios were similar in both countries (average ratio was 8.74:1) and that the incidence of patient falls was
positively associated with patient-nurse ratios in both countries(9)
Nurses may prefer 12-hour shifts because it offers a 3-day workweek and greater flexibility.(2)Nurses work schedules may
influence patient safety. Although 12-hour shifts have become common in acute care hospitals, extending the length of shifts
beyond 8 hours may compromise patient safety due to nurse fatigue(1,12,13,19)
Sleep deprivation and poor quality of sleep lead to fatigue, which can make a nurse less alert, less able to process
information quickly, and less able to quickly respond to changes in patient status(19)
Fatigue and shiftwork become more challenging as nurses age(5)
Researchers in a number of studies have linked 12-hour shifts with increases in patient care errors; nurses who work 12.5
hours or more are 23 times more likely to make a patient care error than nurses who work 8.5 hours shifts. In addition to
the possibility of affecting patient safety, working 12-hour or longer shifts may harm the nurses health by increasing the
incidence of needlestick injuries, musculoskeletal disorders, and driving while fatigued and sleepy(1,12)
Investigators in a study of 3,710 pediatric RNs working in 342 acute care hospitals found that RNs who worked more than
13 hours reported worse job outcomes and lower quality patient care and safety of patients. Compared with nurses who
worked 8-hour shifts, nurses who worked shifts longer than 13 hours were two times as likely to report frequent cases of
central line-associated bloodstream infection(19)
Researchers who surveyed 31,627 RNs working in general medical/surgical units at 488 hospitals in 12 European
countries found that compared with nurses working shorter shifts, nurses working shifts of 12 hours or longer were 41%
more likely to report poor or failing patient safety, 30% more likely to report poor/fair quality of care, and 13% more
likely to report leaving care activities undone(8)
Clendon & Gibbons (2015) call for hospitals to review 12-hour shift practices and limiting single shifts to 810hours
due to the potential for patient harm associated with 12-hour shifts. In a systematic review of 13 studies, investigators
found that the risk for patient care errors is higher among nurses working 12 hour shifts or longer in acute care hospitals.
Additional research is required to discover factors to improve patient safety(4)
Organizational belief that the night shift requires fewer staff nurses and dependence on nursing aids during the night shift
increases patients risk for adverse events and death(14)
Seventy-five percent of hospital nurses work 12-hourshifts(16)
Nurse fatigue is even more of a concern for nurses who work rotating or permanent 12-hour night shifts. Although
working the night shift causes fatigue in nurses who work 8-hourshifts as well as those who work 12-hours shifts, levels
of fatigue are higher in nurses who work 12-hour shifts due to dangerously low amounts of sleep between shifts(1)
In 2014, the American Nurses Association published updated practice and policy considerations on the effect of nurse
fatigue on patient safety(1,3)
One position statement focused on the responsibility of the nurse and recommended that nurses consider the impact of
fatigue before deciding to accept or reject an assignment that is in addition to their regularly scheduled hours, document
the occurrence of unsafe staffing conditions, confront colleagues who are too fatigued to work, and collaborate to change
the work culture to a culture that appreciates the effect of nurse fatigue on patient safety and accepts the individual nurses
right and obligation to refuse an assignment if impaired by fatigue(1)
The other position statement addressed the responsibility of the employer to educate employees regarding the effects of
sleep deprivation and fatigue on patient safety, to maintain work schedules that allow nurses to get adequate rest between
shifts, and to establish formal policies that state a nurse has the right to reject a work assignment based on his/her level of
fatigue(1)
Many healthcare organizations have policies that limit the number of consecutive 12-hour shifts a nurse can work or the
number of hours that can be worked in a 24-hour period(12,13)
An organization that attempts to discontinue 12-hour shifts is likely to meet with considerable resistance from nurses,
who report having a higher level of satisfaction with 12-hour shifts because this staffing option allows them to work fewer
days each week and to have more consecutive days off
Strategies to reduce fatigue in nurses include the following:(20)
Breaks should be away from patient units and responsibilities to reduce stress and revitalize productivity
Clinical managers should allow for nurses who work 12-hour shifts to leave the unit on time instead of staying over for staff
meetings or educational offerings
Hospitals and managers should effectively communicate to nurses that they are valued staff members by supporting efforts
that reduce fatigue (e.g., offering breaks and enough allotted time to eat)
Hospitals and managers should make efforts to hire part-time nurses (e.g., hiring a nurse who is interested in working 4-hour
shifts to help fill gaps in the daily schedule)
What We Can Do
Learn about the relationship between nursing staffing levels and shift work and its effect on patient safety; share this
information with your colleagues
The ANA recommends the following evidence-based steps for enhancing patient safety(3):
Nurses should have input on work schedules; a “regular and predictable schedule” that allows nurses to plan for work and
personal obligations should be implemented
Nurses should work no more than 40 hours in a 7-day period, and no more than 12 hours in a 24-hour period, including
on-call hours
Nurses should not be required to work mandatory overtime as a solution to insufficient staffing
Nurses should take frequent, uninterrupted rest breaks during work shifts
RNs should have the “right to accept or reject a work assignment” to prevent fatigue; rejecting an assignment under these
conditions should not be considered patient abandonment, and RNs should not face negative consequences for rejecting
such an assignment
Nurses should get 79 hours of sleep per day, practice stress management techniques, develop healthy nutrition and
exercise habits, and nap according to hospital or company policy
Consider your personal level of fatigue before accepting a work assignment that is in addition to your regularly scheduled
hours(3)
Report and document the occurrence of unsafe staffing conditions in your workplace(3)
Confront nursing colleagues who are too fatigued to work(3)
Whenever possible, initiate the following when working the night shift:
Avoid performing tasks that require concentration between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m., which is the bodys circadian nadir;
additionally, avoid heavy concentration between 4 a.m. and 6 a.m., as body temperature, performance, and alertness reach a
low point at this time(18)
Phase shift circadian clock by(18):
Using bright lights
Wearing dark sunglasses on the commute home to prevent the suppression of melatonin release
Have a regularly scheduled night and daytime sleep periods
Use a buddy system in which you work with another nurse and check each others work to reduce the risk of making
errors(1)
Advocate for the availability of healthy snack options that are available 24hours a day so that nurses working the night shift
have food options other than snacks that are sold in vending machines(20)
Collaborate with your colleagues to change the work culture to a culture that appreciates the effect of nurse fatigue on patient
safety and accepts the individual nurses right and obligation to refuse an assignment if impaired by fatigue(3)
If you are a nurse manager, collaborate with your colleagues to be sure that every shift is adequately staffed with the
appropriate number and mix of nursing staff related to qualifications and experience(15)
Be sure that work schedules provide adequate rest and recuperation between scheduled shifts(1)
Institute policies that prevent nurses from being called to work on scheduled days off
Allow for nurses who work 12-hour shifts to leave the unit on time instead(20)
Coding Matrix
References are rated using the following codes, listed in order of strength:
M Published meta-analysis
RV Published review of the literature
SR Published systematic or integrative literature review
RU Published research utilization report
X Practice exemplars, stories, opinions
RCT Published research (randomized controlled trial)
QI Published quality improvement report
GI General or background information/texts/reports
L Legislation
R Published research (not randomized controlled trial)
PP Policies, procedures, protocols
C Case histories, case studies
PGR Published government report
U Unpublished research, reviews, poster presentations or
other such materials
G Published guidelines
PFR Published funded report
CP Conference proceedings, abstracts, presentation
References
1. American Nurses Association. (2014, September 10). Addressing nurse fatigue to promote safety and health: Joint responsibilities of registered nurses and employers to
reduce risks. Retrieved May 24, 2017, from
www.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/Policy-Advocacy/Positions-and-Resolutions/ANAPositionStatements/Position-Statements-Alphabetically/Addressing-Nurse-Fatigue-to-Prom
(G)
2. Aveyard, D. (2016, December 1). How do 12-hour shifts affect ICU nurses? Kai Tiaki nursing New Zealand. Retrieved May 24, 2017, from
https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-475226127.html (GI)
3. Brown, T. (2017, November 20). ANA releases new position statement on nurse fatigue. Medscape. Retrieved May 24, 2017, from www.medscape.com/viewarticle/835281 (GI)
4. Clendon, J., & Gibbons, V. (2015). 12 h shifts and rates of error among nurses: a systematic review. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 52(7), 1231-1242. doi:10.1016/
j.ijnurstu.2015.03.011 (SR)
5. Coping with shiftwork: is there a perfect roster? (2015). Nursing Review , 15(1), 4-7. (GI)
6. Diya, L., Van den Heede, K., Sermeus, W., & Lesaffre, E. (2012). The relationship between in-hospital mortality, readmission in to the intensive care nursing unit and/or
operating theatre and nurse staffing levels. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 68(5), 1073-1081. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2648.2011.05812.x (R)
7. Frith, K. H., Anderson, E. F., Tseng, F., & Fong, E. A. (2012). Nurse staffing is an important strategy to prevent medication errors in community hospitals. Nursing Economics,
30(5), 288-294. (R)
8. Griffiths, P., DallOra, C., Simon, M., Ball, J., Lindqvist, R., Rafferty, A.M., … Aiken, L.H. (2014). Nurses shift length and overtime working in 12 European countries: The
association with perceived quality of care and patient safety. Medical Care, 52(11), 975-981. doi:10.1097/MLR.0000000000000233 (R)
9. Hinno, S., Partanen, P., & Vehviläinen-Julkunen, K. (2012). Nursing activities, nurse staffing and adverse patient outcomes as perceived by hospital nurses. Journal of Clinical
Nursing, 21(11-12), 1584-1593. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2702.2011.03956.x (R)
10. The Institute of Medicine. Committee on Quality of Health Care in America. (2001). Crossing the quality chasm: a new health care system for the 21st century. Washington, D.
C.: National Academy Press. (G)
11. Kane, R. L., Shamliyan, T. A., Mueller, C., Duval, S., & Wilt, T. J. (2007). The association of registered nurse staffing levels and patient outcomes: Systematic review and
meta-analysis. Medical Care, 45(12), 1195-1204. doi:10.1097/MLR.0b013e3181468ca3 (M)
12. Marquis, B.L., & Huston, C.J. (2015). Staffing needs and scheduling policies. In Leadership roles and management functions in nursing: Theory and application (8th ed., pp.
388-412). Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. (GI)
13. Montogmery, K. L., & Geiger-Brown, J. (2010). Is it time to pull the plug on 12-hour shifts? Part 2. Barriers to change and executive leadership strategies. Journal of Nursing
Administration, 40(4), 147-149. doi:10.1097/NNA.0b013e3181d40e63 (GI)
14. Palese, A., Petean, M., & Cerne, D. (2014). Unexpected deaths in medical wards during night shifts: a narrative analysis of nursing experiences. Journal of Clinical Nursing,
37(17/18), 2599-2608. doi:0.1111/jocn.12477 (R)
15. Patrician, P. A., Loan, L., McCarthy, M., Fridman, M., Donaldson, N., Bingham, M., & Brosch, L. R. (2011). The association of shift-level nurse staffing with adverse patient
events. Journal of Nursing Administration, 41(2), 64-70. doi:10.1097/NNA.0b013e31820594bf (R)
16. Richards, A. M., Weathers, D. H., & Barwari, R. H. (2016). Is it worth the risk? 12-hour shifts and nurse fatigue. The Oklahoma Nurse , 60(4), 16-17. (GI)
17. Shekelle, P. G. (2013). Nurse-patient ratios as a patient safety strategy: A systematic review. Annals of Internal Medicine, 158(5 Pt 2), 404-409.
doi:10.7326/0003-4819-158-5-201303051.00007 (SR)
18. Smith, L. A., Larsen, C. A., & Johnson, K. L. (2017). Are “quiet-at-night” initiatives impacting staff alertness? Nursing, 47(1), 61-62.
doi:10.1097/01.NURSE.0000504673.80980.b1 (GI)
19. Stimpfel, A. W., Lake, E. T., Barton, S., Gorman, K. C., & Aiken, L. H. (2013). How differing shift lengths relate to quality outcomes in pediatrics. Journal of Nursing
Administration, 43(2), 95-100. doi:10.1097/NNA.0b013e31827f2244 (R)
20. Townsend, T., & Anderson, P. (2013). Are extended work hours worth the risk? American Nurse Today, 8(5), 8-11. Retrieved from
http://americannursetoday.com/are-extended-work-hours-worth-the-risk/ (GI)
21. Van den Heede, K., Simoens, S., Diya, L., Lesaffre, E., Vleugels, A., & Sermeus, W. (2010). Increasing nurse staffing levels in Belgian cardiac surgery centres: A cost-effective
patient safety intervention? Journal of Advanced Nursing, 66(6), 1291-1296. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2648.2010.05307.x (R)
22. World Health Organization. (2017). Patient safety. Retrieved May 24, 2017, from http://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/Health-systems/patient-safety/patient-safety (G)
Template for Asking PICOT Questions
INTERVENTION
In ____________________(P), how does ____________________ (I) compared to
____________________(C) affect _____________________(O) within ___________(T)?
THERAPY
In __________________(P), what is the effect of __________________(I) compared to
_____________ (C) on ________________(O within _____________(T)?
PROGNOSIS/PREDICTION
In ______________ (P), how does ___________________ (I) compared to _____________(C)
influence __________________ (O) over _______________ (T)?
DIAGNOSIS OR DIAGNOSTIC TEST
In ___________________(P) are/is ____________________(I) compared with
_______________________(C) more accurate in diagnosing _________________(O)?
ETIOLOGY
Are____________________ (P), who have ____________________ (I) compared with those
without ____________________(C) at ____________ risk for/of
____________________(O) over ________________(T)?
MEANING
How do _______________________ (P) with _______________________ (I) perceive
_______________________ (O) during ________________(T)?
Adapted from the PICOT Questions Template; Ellen Fineout-Overholt, 2006. This form may be used for educational & research purposes without permission.
Short Definitions of Different Types of Questions
Intervention/Therapy: Questions addressing the treatment of an illness or disability.
Etiology: Questions addressing the causes or origins of disease (i.e., factors that produce or
predispose toward a certain disease or disorder).
Diagnosis: Questions addressing the act or process of identifying or determining the nature and
cause of a disease or injury through evaluation.
Prognosis/Prediction: Questions addressing the prediction of the course of a disease.
Meaning: Questions addressing how one experiences a phenomenon.
Sample Questions:
Intervention: In African-?American female adolescents with hepatitis B (P), how does
acetaminophen (I) compared to ibuprofen (C) affect liver function (O)?
Therapy: In children with spastic cerebral palsy (P), what is the effect of splinting and casting(I)
compared to constraint-? induced therapy (C) on two-?handed skill development (O)?
Prognosis/Prediction:
1) For patients 65 years and older (P), how does the use of an influenza vaccine (I) compared to
not received the vaccine (C) influence the risk of developing pneumonia (O) during flu season
(T)?
2) In patients who have experienced an acute myocardial infarction (P), how does being a
smoker (I) compared to a non-?smoker (C) influence death and infarction rates (O) during the
first 5 years after the myocardial infarction (T)?
Diagnosis: In middle-?aged males with suspected myocardial infarction (P), are serial 12-?lead
ECGs (I) compared to one initial 12-?lead ECG (C) more accurate in diagnosing an acute
myocardial infarction (O)?
Etiology: Are 30-? to 50-?year-?old women (P) who have high blood pressure (I) compared with
those without high blood pressure (C) at increased risk for an acute myocardial infarction (O)
during the first year after hysterectomy (T)?
Meaning: How do young males (P) with a diagnosis of below the waist paralysis (I) perceive
their interactions with their romantic significant others (O) during the first year after their
diagnosis (T)?
Adapted from the PICOT Questions Template; Ellen Fineout-Overholt, 2006. This form may be used for educational & research purposes without permission.
1
Nursing Staff Substance Abuse
Rene Penate
NURS350: Research in Nursing
Professor Sara Turpel
June 23, 2022
2
Nursing Staff Substance Abuse
Introduction
Recent studies show that drug and substance abuse is rampant among nurses especially
those work in critical care units. Nurses who work while under the influence of drugs like
alcohol normally place patients life under high risk and also harm the reputation of the
healthcare organization they are working at (Smith & Campbell, 2020). Despite the clear
evidence on the impacts of drug abuse among healthcare professionals, there is little research
done on the strategies to address the vice in the healthcare sector.
PICOT Question
In nursing staff working in critical care units (P), what is the effect of policy
implementation and monitoring (I) compared to expulsion (C) on elimination of drug abuse (O)
in two months (T)?
Population
The rate at which critical care nurses use drugs is estimated to be on the same level with
the general population which is around 7% (Smith & Campbell, 2020). Although the National
Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) has been vocal against drug abuse among nurses,
there are still challenges facing the board and it appears that nurses continue abusing drug
substances to reduce stress associated with the nature of work in critical care units. It is argued
that nurses suffer from burnout due to tight work schedule and the inability to balance personal
life with work life.
3
Substance abuse among nurses has dire effects not only to patients, but also to their
families and the society at large. Some of the effects include disagreements among nursing staff,
conflicts with their families, decreased quality of care, among other effects. Due to fear of being
punished, most victims are unable to seek help from their peers and coworkers who are likely to
escalate the issue to the management level. Therefore, nurses who abuse drugs are likely to
consume them inside facilitys bathrooms before attending the patient. This might put the life of
the patient at risk because of poor judgment caused by certain drugs like alcohol and marijuana
(Smith & Campbell, 2020).
Intervention
Despite the nursing board efforts to counteract drug abuse among nursing staff, there are
a lot of inconsistencies in policy communication which leads to infectiveness in policy
implementation. Therefore, the suggested intervention program involves monitoring and
surveillance of nursing professionals to discourage drug abuse (Smith & Campbell, 2020).
Monitoring of critical care nurses involves educating nursing management of strategies of
identifying drug abuse symptoms among nurses and taking appropriate measures to ensure the
effects are not reflected on the patients outcome.
According to the National Institute for Drug Abuse, healthcare facilities should avoid
keeping prohibited substances within the reach of potential abusers (Smith & Campbell, 2020).
When there are appropriate controls put in place to prevent drug abuse among nurses, it is easier
for the management to prevent drug abuse among critical care nurses. Studies show that
synergistic integration between life and work balance helps in reducing stressful work
environment among nurses working in intensive care units.
4
Rehabilitation offers appropriate treatment option for those nurses suffering from
withdrawal symptoms and fully depends on drugs to be effective in their roles. The T American
Addiction Centers license medical professional organizations to offer wide range of treatment
options to individuals suffering from drug and substance addiction. These organizations include
River Oaks Treatment Center, Greenhouse Treatment Center, and Recover First Treatment
Center. When nurses recover, they can be taken back to work in their respective units and be
subjected to close monitoring and special care to avoid going back to drug abuse (Smith &
Campbell, 2020).
Comparison
Drug abuse is not only threating to the nursing staff but also among the general
population. In most cases, drug abusers cannot help themselves especially when they are
addicted. It is therefore important to offer support services to help the victims of drug abuse
recover from the addiction without necessarily dismissing them from work. Even when nurse are
dismissed from work when found consuming illegal drugs, they will continue with the vice
because they are likely to experience tolerance and withdrawal symptom when they stop abusing
the drugs in question (Smith & Campbell, 2020). It is therefore important to show compassionate
care for nurses with addictions and slowly help them recover. Although addiction is deemed as
lack of moral values and self-control, studies show that it is a chronic brain disease that should
be treated like any other disease (Smith & Campbell, 2020). It is therefore clear that punishing
healthcare professional for abusing drugs does not solve the problem rather create more issues in
the society.
Outcome
5
From the findings of the study conducted by Smith & Campbell (2020), managers and
supervisors agreed that there were insufficient policies to counteract substance abuse among
nursing professionals at large. Various participants in this study were concerned of the risks
posed to patients when nurses attend them while under influence of drugs. When monitoring
policies were implemented to prevent nurses from engaging in drug abuse for two months, there
was notable positive change in the behavior of nurses and the patient outcome improved
significantly. The monitoring policy framework addressed causes of drug abuse among nurses,
various aspects of the problem, and suitable strategies to address the problem other than
expulsion.
Time
The population was exposed to intervention program for a period of exactly eight weeks
(two months) before the outcome was determined.
6
References
Smith, A., & Campbell, D. (2020). Strategies to Address Substance-Abusing and SubstanceImpaired Healthcare Professionals. International Journal Of Applied Management And
Technology, 19(1). https://doi.org/10.5590/ijamt.2020.19.1.08
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