Managers are responsible to intervene immediately once they suspect problematic substance use or it is reported by other staff members. Problematic substance use (PSU) can affect a nurse’s cognitive functioning and judgment, decision-making and the ability to manage stressful situations. As a result, PSU conflicts with the standards of practice for nurses and is a threat to the provision of safe, competent, ethical and compassionate nursing services.
We developed this practice guideline to help managers understand how to identify problematic substance use, steps to take if PSU is suspected or reported to you and planning for returning to practice after recovery.
Download the PDF File for this Practice Support Tool:
