NCSBN Debuts "Substance Use Disorder in Nursing" Video

CHICAGO, IL--(Marketwired - Nov 12, 2013) - The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) has launched the "Substance Use Disorder in Nursing" video, which can be viewed at www.ncsbn.org/sud, to help nurse managers and nurses identify the warning signs of substance use disorder (SUD), and to provide guidelines for prevention, education and intervention.

The chronic and complex disease of SUD is an issue of importance to U.S. boards of nursing because of the potential harm to patient welfare. It is vital that nurses and nurse managers understand their ethical obligations and legal imperatives associated with reporting a nurse with SUD. Early recognition, reporting and intervention are keys to successful treatment. The goal of returning the nurse to practice can only be accomplished when it is safe to do so.

Using a potential real-world case, the video plays out a scenario that walks viewers through the indicators that may signal that a nurse has a substance use problem. The video emphasizes that supportive and educated supervisors and colleagues can ensure that nurses with this disease can be identified quickly and receive the help they need.

Utilizing new research from experts and feedback from boards of nursing, two online courses, "Understanding Substance Use Disorder in Nursing" for all nurses and nurse managers, and "Nurse Manager Guidelines for Substance Use Disorder" for nurse managers, were developed as companion resources to the video. Both courses award contact hours upon successful completion and are approved by the Alabama Board of Nursing. Register for the courses at www.learningext.com.

Prevention-focused posters for health care facilitates, in addition to brochures about SUD, will be available in the coming months, free of charge from www.ncsbn.org.

Founded March 15, 1978, as an independent not-for-profit organization, NCSBN was created to lessen the burdens of state governments and bring together boards of nursing (BONs) to act and counsel together on matters of common interest. NCSBN's membership is comprised of the BONs in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and four U.S. territories -- American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands and the Virgin Islands. There are also 16 associate members that are either nursing regulatory bodies or empowered regulatory authorities from other countries or territories.

NCSBN Member Boards protect the public by ensuring that safe and competent nursing care is provided by licensed nurses. These BONs regulate more than 3 million licensed nurses, the second largest group of licensed professionals in the U.S.

Mission: NCSBN provides education, service and research through collaborative leadership to promote evidence-based regulatory excellence for patient safety and public protection.

The statements and opinions expressed are those of NCSBN and not the individual member state or territorial boards of nursing.

National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc.
111 E. Wacker Drive, Suite 2900
Chicago, IL 60601-4277