Table 1.

Key Points and Gaps in Professional Nursing Organization Substance Abuse Policies (National and International)

Key Points	Gaps
(1) Alcoholism and drug addiction are considered treatable diseases.	(1) How many drug or alcohol relapses are allowed before disciplinary action is taken?
(2) Primary purpose of all drug/alcohol monitoring programs is to protect the public.	(2) How can nurse executives help prevent poor patient outcomes attributed to employees with SUDs?
(3) Public protection is achieved by providing an avenue for nurses to self-report or report a colleague in need of assistance without fear of punitive outcomes.	(3) How do nurse executives educate and implement intervention training with staff?
(4) Forty-three US states and territories in Canada, New Zealand, and Australia have monitoring programs in place for nurses.	(4) How are drug screening tests used in the facility and what is the process?
(5) Student nurses should be given the opportunity to have monitoring and reenter educational programs.	(5) How is random drug and alcohol testing viewed within the organization?
(6) Hospitals and nursing schools that support monitoring and reentry are in line with the objectives of the US Government document Healthy People 2020.	(6) How are nurse executives made aware of individual nurses in recovery programs or under monitoring contracts?
(7) Hospital administrators are bound to follow ANA’s Code of Ethics for nurses, which support helping colleagues to recover from SUDs and return to work.	(7) Are substance use problems and access to assistance discussed openly in orientation with new staff?
(8) Nurses who are unwilling or unable to be rehabilitated should be terminated and referred to the state board of nursing for license revocation.