Table 2.
Potential behaviors associated with substance use or dependency among nurses
| Attendance |
| Excessive sick calls clothing |
| Repeated absences with a pattern |
| Tardiness |
| Frequent accidents on the job |
| Fret physical complaints |
| Peculiar/iquenmprobable excuses for absences |
| Frequent absence from clinical area |
| Frequent trips to rest room/locker room |
| Long coffee or lunch breaks |
| Early arrival or late departure |
| Presence in clinical during scheduled time off |
| Confusion about work schedule |
| Request for assignments at less supervised setting |
| Performance |
| Excessive time required for record keeping |
| Assignments require more effort/time |
| Difficulty recalling/understanding instructions |
| Difficulty in assigning priorities |
| Display of disinterest in work |
| Absentminded/forgetful |
| Alternate periods of high and low activity |
| Increasing inability to meet schedules |
| Missed deadlines |
| Frequent requests for assistance |
| Carelessness |
| Overreaction to criticism |
| Tendency to blame others |
| Complaints regarding poor care |
| Use of controlled substances |
| Signs out more controlled substances than other providers |
| Frequently breaks or spills drugs |
| Waits to be alone before obtaining controlled substances for assigned cases |
| Discrepancies between patients’ charts and narcotic records |
| Patient complaining of pain out of proportion to medication charted |
| Frequent medication errors |
| Defensive when questioned about medication errors |
| Frequent disappearance immediately after signing out narcotics |
| Unwitnessed or excessive waste of controlled drugs |
| Tampering with drug vials or containers |
| Use of infrequently used drugs |
| Behavior |
| Unkempt/inappropriate |
| Poor hygiene |
| Mood swings |
| Frequent irritability with others |
| Poor recall |
| Physical abuse |
| Rigidity/inability to change plans |
| Incoherent or irrelevant statements |
| Drowsiness at work |
| Uncooperativeness with staff |
| Tendency towards isolation |
| Deteriorating relationships |
| Wears long sleeves all the time |
| Physical signs |
| Hand tremors |
| Excessive sweating |
| Marked nervousness |
| Coming to clinical intoxicated |
| Blackouts |
| Frequent hangovers |
| Odor of alcohol |
| GI upset |
| Slurred speech |
| Increased anxiety |
| Unsteady gait |
| Excessive use of breath mints |
Reprinted with permission from Roche (2007).