How to Manage Recovering Nurses

Licensed nurses who are experiencing substance abuse or mental health issues that require a recovery program can be potentially hazardous to patient well-being in hospital and clinical settings. Nurses who are in recovery must learn to manage stress effectively and abstain from any substance abuse, in order to ensure safe patient care and successful job performance. They are often given a probationary period during which their performance and progress in recovery is monitored closely. The close management of nurses who are in recovery is a critical responsibility and must be organized, implemented, and tracked very carefully.

Instructions

• 1

  Assess the recovery plan, readiness to work, and outline a probationary plan. A nurse who is returning to work after substance abuse rehabilitation, or inpatient treatment should be required to provide a progress report from that treatment center. If the individual has exhibited a readiness to work, a plan should be created to transition her back to her nursing duties. Ongoing counseling and progress reports, drug testing, and additional criteria deemed necessary to ensure patient safety, should be included in the plan.

• 2

  Require regular documentation of treatment progress during probation. A nurse in recovery should provide regular written documentation regarding attendance and progress at individual and group counseling, as well any 12-step recovery meetings and medical appointments related to the recovery process. A supervisor should have regular conferences with the nurse and document the discussions and outcomes carefully during the probationary period. The supervision should focus on clear benchmarks that a manager can measure accurately, such as attendance, rate of service, nurses' charting, and quality of patient care.

• 3

  Document final progress and recommendations for continued employment. As the probationary period ends, the management team will need to review the individual's performance in both the work setting and her recovery treatment plan. A conference should be convened, during which documentation can be reviewed, and the management team can share the final outcomes and employment recommendations with the nurse in question.

• 4

  Offer on-going support for an individual in recover by providing stress management skills and workplace support. As an individual successfully transitions back to the workplace, a manager should continue to offer supportive supervision as needed. Maintaining supportive lines of communication and assistance will ensure that the nurse has the support she needs to progress.