Substance Abuse Objectives

Question 1

Elements that should be included in a substance abuse intervention for a co-worker

Answer 1

• Have trained interventionist present
• Include individuals spouse, family, friends, colleagues
• Be sensitive to gender
• Bring all evidence
• Do not let person leave intervention alone, do not let them drive (may become suicidal)
• Make arrangements for direct transfer to inpatient facility prior
• Do not let individual decide treatment
• Threaten to call police ONLY as last resort

Question 2

Effective measures to prevent substance abuse among anesthesia providers

Answer 2

• Control of anesthetic drugs regardless of controlled or abuse potential (most effective)
• Substance abuse education program
• Recognize future addiction can eliminiate career and livelihood
• Regular exercise routine
• Wellness program incorporated into CRNA program
• Computerized charting and med distribution
• Pharmacy cehckin contents of waste to confirm
• Training to recognize S/S of substance abuse
  
  • Lower exam scores
  • Spending excessive time at hospital
  • Not taking offered breaks during cases
  • Pulling large amounts of drugs
• Peer support group to discuss depression, stress, critical events
• Support from family and friends
• Preventing fatigue in workplace (mandatory breaks after 16 hrs

Question 3

Which is more impactful, chronic or acute stress?

Answer 3

• Chronic
• Leads to burnout, which impacts job satisfaction

Question 4

Describe demographics of most at risk anesthesia providers

Answer 4

• Male
• 6-10 years of experience

Question 5

What situational events make anesthesia provider more at risk for substance abuse?

Answer 5

• Stress
• Working irregular hours
• Sleep deprived
• Working long surgical cases

Question 6

What traits make SRNA more at risk of substance abuse?

Answer 6

• Preaddictive or an excitement seeking personality
• Goal directed personality
• Desire to self-medicate
• Increased knowledge of drug pharmacodynamics
• Students in to 1/3 of class

Question 7

Defining attributes for successful re-entry

Answer 7

• successful completion of an impaired provider program
• support from colleagues
• participation in support groups
• a reentry contract inclusive of other attributes and reduced workload to accomodate attendance at meetings
• monitoring program with random drug testing

Question 8

Does computer charting make it easier or hard to divert?

Answer 8

Harder

• check for waste
• confirm timing
• track discrepancies