The Disease

Many people believe that nurses are immune from addiction by essence of their intelligence and education.  In reality, exposure, easy availability, and familiarity with medications often lead predisposed health professionals to develop chemical dependency.

Substance abuse is one of the major factors threatening safe nursing practice.  Chemical dependency is a chronic, progressive illness characterized by the use of chemicals in spite of adverse consequences.  This compulsive-use cycle may have periods where use is controlled, but it is normally followed by at least one episode of out-of-control use causing adverse consequences in one's life.

Not recognizing or dealing with chemical dependency will exacerbate the problem.  Often we are too engrossed in our own problems to be objective and our individual efforts result in more stress that increases the severity of the situation.  Left untreated, chemical dependency will not only risk your life, but the life and safety of patients.

Nurses often buy into the myth that they should be able to handle their chemical dependency because they are health care providers.  What may seem a tremendous burden to one person can become a lighter load when shared with someone else.

The first step is to admit there is a problem.  It isn't easy to admit to another person that we are having trouble handling our problems alone.  It is a subject that we avoid discussing or confronting.  Yet, once we reach that first step, we can begin the process of regaining our life back.

A nurse may access the program by self-referral, board referral, referral from another person or agency, such as an employer, coworker or family member.  Admission to the KARE for Nurses Program is available to individuals who, at the time of application, meet the requirement listed below.

• Registed nurse, or licensed practical nurse, licensed in the Commonwealth of Kentucky or an applicant for a credential issued by the board;
• Request participation in the program regardless of whether referred by the board, self, or another person;
• Admit in writing to being a chemically dependent individual;
• Have not been terminated from a similar program in this or any other state for noncompliance;
• Have attended an approved treatment provider;
• Obtain a chemical dependency assessment by a specialist in the field of drug, alcohol, or other chemical dependency;
• Agree to the terms set forth in the KARE for Nurses Program agreement; and
• Agree not to be employed in any capacity in a patient care setting or one that requires licensure until approved to do so by the program staff.

The KARE for Nurses Program develops individualized Program Agreements based upon the unique circumstances of the nurse.  Monitoring can be facilitated in many ways, some of which are listed below:

Assistance with identification, assessment and referral of nurses with chemical dependency to approved treatment providers.

Monitoring participants for compliance during recovery and continued nursing practice.

Providing education for nurses, employers and other groups about the KARE for Nurses Program, chemical dependency, treatment, and related topics.

Providing encouragement and support to help ensure the participants are able to practice nursing in accordance with acceptable and prevailing standards of nursing care.

Request for information and/or assistance are strictly confidential.  All records of program participants are confidential.  Participation in the KARE for Nurses Program is voluntary and will remain anonymous to the Kentucky Board of Nursing as long as the participant is compliant with the terms of the program agreement.

Please feel free to contact Paula S. Schenk, KARE for Nurses Program Manager, at 1-800-305-2042, Ext. 236, or Jill M. Cambron, KARE for Nurses Program Coordinator at 1-800-305-2042, Ext. 289.

For additional information regarding the KARE for Nurses Program, you can send a message via the Compliance Section Contact.