Addiction in the Lives of Registered Nurses and Their Wake-Up Jolt to Recovery - by Carol Stanford (Paperback)

About the Book

This book is a revelation and warning to the public and the healthcare community of the hidden impact and consequences of improperly confronting substance abuse within the nursing profession. It allows nurses to express in their own voices the risks and devastation of addictio...

Book Synopsis

In this age of increasing headlines about drug addiction and prescription drug abuse, this book is a timely revelation of how the nursing profession is also impacted by substance abuse. It allows nurses, who are the most trusted profession in society, who have been hidden within their profession and living with substance use disorders, to openly voice their personal experiences with addiction. Seven nurses detail their journey through family dynamics, early use as nursing students and later career nurses as they traveled deeper and deeper into their addiction. They discuss their shame, humiliation and dejection under the throes of the compelling forces of drugs and alcohol. They also describe how their family, other nurses, the healthcare system, and society assisted them in perpetuating their deception and denial about their disease. They explain how they lied, stole and cheated those around them to maintain their addiction. Each explains in detail the confrontations and the "jolt" and "wake up call" it took for them to awaken, become sober and truly enter recovery. They are all candid and forthright in order to help others that are impacted by this horrific and complex disease. They each share how recovery is possible when appropriate attitudes and tools are put in place to support nurses suffering from the devastation of addiction. Their stories bring attention to the importance of intervention, treatment, and recovery communities within the nursing profession. Recovery is emphasized as a "gift" by each of these nurses. The nurses and the researcher provide suggestions and recommendations to assist the healthcare community in addressing addiction in nursing. This book reveals how recovery for nurses is a major public health benefit.

Review Quotes

"All healthcare professionals and their leadership must read Dr. Stanford's book. It captures the incredible journeys of several nurses who lived painful lives as substance users for many years. Their compelling powerful words along with enlightening data provide important information that is awakening and beg for a call for action by the nursing profession. Dr. Stanford's timely research findings shed a huge light on this ugly silent disease that plagues the nursing profession and other healthcare professions." --Olivia Y. Stringer, Ed. D. RN, change agent fellowship director, Contra Costa Regional Medical Center

"Dr. Stanford has written a must-read narrative for everyone who has a loved one or professional who has been touched by alcoholism or addictions of any form. Her knowledge and experience offer special insights into the lives of nurses and some of the stressors that they endure." --Stephanie Trumm, RN, BA, CARN, LADC

All healthcare professionals and their leadership must read Dr. Stanford's book. It captures the incredible journeys of several nurses who lived painful lives as substance users for many years. Their compelling powerful words along with enlightening data provide important information that is awakening and beg for a call for action by the nursing profession. Dr. Stanford's timely research findings shed a huge light on this ugly silent disease that plagues the nursing profession and other healthcare professions.

Dr. Stanford has written a must-read narrative for everyone who has a loved one or professional who has been touched by alcoholism or addictions of any form. Her knowledge and experience offer special insights into the lives of nurses and some of the stressors that they endure.

About the Author

Carol Stanford is an adjunct professor at William Jessup University and has been a part of the nursing community for over twenty-five years.