31113 • Recognizing Impairment in the Workplace: The Florida Requirement

Table of Contents

31113 • Recognizing Impairment in the Workplace: The Florida Requirement

How to Receive Credit

Course Overview

Audience

Accreditations & Approvals

Designations of Credit

Individual State Nursing Approvals

Special Approvals

Course Objective

Learning Objectives

Faculty

Faculty Disclosure

Division Planner

Division Planner Disclosure

Director of Development and Academic Affairs

Director Disclosure Statement

About the Sponsor

Disclosure Statement

Implicit Bias in Health Care

1. INTRODUCTION

2. SCOPE OF THE PROBLEM

3. UNIQUE RISK FACTORS

4. IDENTIFYING IMPAIRMENT IN THE WORKPLACE

DEFINITION OF IMPAIRMENT

SIGNS OF IMPAIRMENT

5. REPORTING COLLEAGUES AND MANDATORY REPORTING LAW

FLORIDA LAW

HOW TO REPORT AN IMPAIRED NURSE

6. TREATMENT PROGRAMS

RETURNING TO WORK

7. PROMOTING SAFETY IN THE WORKPLACE AND PROVIDING ASSISTANCE

Works Cited

31113 • Recognizing Impairment in the Workplace: The Florida Requirement

Nancy Campbell, RN, BSN, PHN

www.netce.com

Copyright © 2025 NetCE, All rights reserved.

Impairment can place everyone in a workplace at risk of injury. First and foremost is the risk to patients, who trust healthcare professionals to provide safe, reliable, and effective care. This course presents information on recognizing the signs and symptoms of emotional-, mental health-, and substance-related workplace impairment. Strategies for intervention and reporting (e.g., how and to whom impairment should be reported) are also outlined, particularly within the context of the Florida Nurse Practice Act. Treatment of impairment, including treatment programs, employer initiatives for impaired nurses, and returning to work, will be discussed. In the state of Florida, the Intervention Project for Nurses (IPN) is the Department of Health's contracted program to address nurse impairment; this program will be discussed in detail.

31113 • Recognizing Impairment in the Workplace: The Florida Requirement

Education Category. Management

Release Date. 11/01/2025

Expiration Date. 10/31/2028

How to Receive Credit

To complete this course for continuing education credit please go to http://www.netce.com/course/3236 in your browser.

For assistance with receiving continuing education credit, please contact us at help@netce.com.

Course Overview

Impairment can place everyone in a workplace at risk of injury. First and foremost is the risk to patients, who trust healthcare professionals to provide safe, reliable, and effective care. This course presents information on recognizing the signs and symptoms of emotional-, mental health-, and substance-related workplace impairment. Strategies for intervention and reporting (e.g., how and to whom impairment should be reported) are also outlined, particularly within the context of the Florida Nurse Practice Act. Treatment of impairment, including treatment programs, employer initiatives for impaired nurses, and returning to work, will be discussed. In the state of Florida, the Intervention Project for Nurses (IPN) is the Department of Health's contracted program to address nurse impairment; this program will be discussed in detail.

Audience

This course is designed for nurses in Florida who may intervene to prevent or identify impairment in the workplace.

Accreditations & Approvals

In support of improving patient care, TRC Healthcare/NetCE is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team. NetCE is accredited by the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET). NetCE complies with the ANSI/IACET Standard, which is recognized internationally as a standard of excellence in instructional practices. As a result of this accreditation, NetCE is authorized to issue the IACET CEU.

Designations of Credit

NetCE designates this continuing education activity for 2 ANCC contact hour(s). NetCE designates this continuing education activity for 2.4 hours for Alabama nurses. NetCE is authorized by IACET to offer 0.2 CEU(s) for this program. AACN Synergy CERP Category B.

Individual State Nursing Approvals

In addition to states that accept ANCC, NetCE is approved as a provider of continuing education in nursing by: Alabama, Provider #ABNP0353 (valid through July 30, 2029); Arkansas, Provider #50-2405; California, BRN Provider #CEP9784; California, LVN Provider #V10662; California, PT Provider #V10842; District of Columbia, Provider #50-2405; Florida, Provider #50-2405; Georgia, Provider #50-2405; Kentucky, Provider #7-0054 through 12/31/2025; South Carolina, Provider #50-2405; West Virginia RN and APRN, Provider #50-2405.

Special Approvals

This course fulfills the Florida requirement for 2 hours of education on Recognizing Impairment in the Workplace.

Course Objective

The purpose of this course is to provide nurses with an appreciation of the impact of impairment on the provision of nursing care and on patient health as well as the skills to identify and report instances of workplace impairment.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:

1. Outline the epidemiology and scope of impairment in the healthcare workplace.

2. Discuss unique risk factors for substance abuse in nurses.

3. Identify the signs of impairment in the nursing workplace.

4. Analyze the process and legal obligations involved in reporting an instance of impairment in the workplace.

5. Describe the treatment programs available for nurses who have been impaired in the workplace.

Faculty

Nancy Campbell, RN, BSN, PHN, received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from California State University, Bakersfield in 1987. She has nursing experience in a variety of clinical settings, including medical/surgical, community health, and preschool health. She was a nurse case manager for a community program supporting teen parents and a public health nurse focusing on communicable disease management. Her primary focus and passion is on direct patient care and patient education. She is presently employed as a registered nurse for the Head Start program in Tulare County, California.

Faculty Disclosure

Contributing faculty, Nancy Campbell, RN, BSN, PHN, has disclosed no relevant financial relationship with any product manufacturer or service provider mentioned.

Division Planner

Mary Franks, MSN, APRN, FNP-C

Division Planner Disclosure

The division planner has disclosed no relevant financial relationship with any product manufacturer or service provider mentioned.

Director of Development and Academic Affairs

Sarah Campbell

Director Disclosure Statement

The Director of Development and Academic Affairs has disclosed no relevant financial relationship with any product manufacturer or service provider mentioned.

About the Sponsor

The purpose of NetCE is to provide challenging curricula to assist healthcare professionals to raise their levels of expertise while fulfilling their continuing education requirements, thereby improving the quality of healthcare.

Our contributing faculty members have taken care to ensure that the information and recommendations are accurate and compatible with the standards generally accepted at the time of publication. The publisher disclaims any liability, loss or damage incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, of the use and application of any of the contents. Participants are cautioned about the potential risk of using limited knowledge when integrating new techniques into practice.

Disclosure Statement

It is the policy of NetCE not to accept commercial support. Furthermore, commercial interests are prohibited from distributing or providing access to this activity to learners.

Implicit Bias in Health Care

The role of implicit biases on healthcare outcomes has become a concern, as there is some evidence that implicit biases contribute to health disparities, professionals' attitudes toward and interactions with patients, quality of care, diagnoses, and treatment decisions. This may produce differences in help-seeking, diagnoses, and ultimately treatments and interventions. Implicit biases may also unwittingly produce professional behaviors, attitudes, and interactions that reduce patients' trust and comfort with their provider, leading to earlier termination of visits and/or reduced adherence and follow-up. Disadvantaged groups are marginalized in the healthcare system and vulnerable on multiple levels; health professionals' implicit biases can further exacerbate these existing disadvantages.

Interventions or strategies designed to reduce implicit bias may be categorized as change-based or control-based. Change-based interventions focus on reducing or changing cognitive associations underlying implicit biases. These interventions might include challenging stereotypes. Conversely, control-based interventions involve reducing the effects of the implicit bias on the individual's behaviors. These strategies include increasing awareness of biased thoughts and responses. The two types of interventions are not mutually exclusive and may be used synergistically.

1. INTRODUCTION

Impairment of a healthcare professional can place everyone in a workplace at risk for injury. First and foremost is the risk to patients, who trust healthcare professionals to provide safe, reliable, and effective care. The ethical duty to not harm patients is a cornerstone of nursing, yet impaired healthcare workers injure patients daily. Another concern is the potential for impaired nurses to harm other professionals in the workplace, either directly or indirectly. Direct harm falls on a spectrum ranging from serious, injury-causing accidents to excessive absenteeism, which puts additional strain on staff. Presenteeism (i.e., reporting for work while impaired) places colleagues in the difficult position of having to work harder as a result of another's impairment, working in a potentially dangerous environment, and facing the dilemma of reporting a coworker, colleague, or friend.

Reporting impairment can be a difficult ethical situation for healthcare professionals, who often cover for impaired colleagues out of friendship or loyalty and who fear that reporting may ruin the nurse's career or their own. The truth is that the circumstances causing impairment have already eroded a nurse's professional abilities to some degree, and in most states, including Florida, good-faith reporters (i.e., those with sincere and honest intentions) are protected from retaliation by whistleblower laws. Conversely, not reporting a known impaired nurse is a violation of the Nurse Practice Act that can lead to disciplinary action by the Florida Board of Nursing.

Injury to patients and coworkers is increasingly likely when a worker is impaired, but impairment also gravely affects the individual nurse, whose health, safety, career, and social and financial standing are at risk if interventions are not undertaken. The American Nurses Association (ANA) definition of impairment describes a broad array of conditions that can interfere with workplace functioning, including mental or physical states, fatigue, substance abuse, and other personal circumstances that adversely affect job performance [2]. Though fatigue and certain personal circumstances may be more easily resolved, these types of impairment still pose a danger. Fatigue, acute physical illness, and personal issues (e.g., stress, relationship problems) are generally dealt with in a different manner than impairment related to chemical dependence, other psychologic disorders, and chronic physical conditions. It should be remembered that alcohol and/or substance abuse is a type of medical and psychologic disorder, and helping the nurse obtain treatment so she or he can get healthy and return to work is the ultimate goal of reporting and intervention. Nearly all states, including Florida, now offer nurses found to be impaired at work an alternative to criminal prosecution, the chance to retain their license, and a return to nursing if they agree to enter and participate in an intervention program.

This course presents information on recognizing the signs and symptoms of emotional-, mental health-, and substance-related workplace impairment. Strategies for intervention and reporting (e.g., how and to whom impairment should be reported) are also outlined, particularly within the context of the Florida Nurse Practice Act. Treatment of impairment, including intervention programs, employer initiatives for impaired nurses, and returning to work, will be discussed. In the state of Florida, the Intervention Project for Nurses (IPN) is the Department of Health's contracted program to address nurse impairment; this program will be discussed in detail.

2. SCOPE OF THE PROBLEM

Historically, the rate of substance use disorder among healthcare professionals was thought to be much higher than in the general public, due to job stress and easy access to pharmaceutical drugs. However, the rate among nurses and physicians is now estimated to be only slightly higher than or equal to the rate found in the general public (10% to 15%) [3,5,6,9]. The ANA has reported that approximately 15% of all nurses abuse substances to the point at which interference with vocational practice can be expected [13,17]. Based on these data, up to 525,000 of the more than 3.5 million nurses in the United States have substance use disorders that may affect job performance. Furthermore, one survey indicated that alcohol abuse continues to rise among nurses, particularly since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic [4]. Nurses make up the greatest proportion of healthcare workers in the country; therefore, substance-related impairment among nurses is a major healthcare problem, despite similar rates of abuse and dependency among other healthcare professionals [9].

According to the Nurse Worklife and Wellness Study, past-year illicit drug use among nurses was 5.7% and prescription drug misuse was 9.9% [6]. Another study found that while the rate of drug dependence was similar among female nurses and women in the general population, the rate of prescription drug abuse was much higher (more than double) among nurses; use of street-type drugs (e.g., cocaine, cannabis) was found to be lower in nurses than in the general population [5]. Reasons cited for the higher rates of prescription drug abuse included easier access, familiarity with dosages and effects, and comfort experimenting with drugs commonly prescribed to patients [6]. This phenomenon, referred to as "pharmacologic optimism," is based on the ingrained belief that pharmaceutical drugs cause profound healing with few to no negative effects, an idea that is established early in some nurses [9]. Aside from alcohol, which is the most commonly abused substance among nurses, one study identified the classes of drugs most often abused, in order of frequency, as amphetamines, opioids, sedatives, tranquilizers, and inhalants. In this study, abuse was defined as prescription drug use without a script, using greater than the prescribed dosage, or using a drug for indications other than those prescribed [6,9]. In many instances of abuse, drugs were obtained through diversion. Drugs are diverted in several different ways [6,11]:

- A physician writes a prescription for the nurse in the absence of a true indication.

- The nurse steals scripts and falsifies prescriptions for him- or herself.

- A whole dose of an injectable drug ordered for a patient is used by the nurse and replaced with saline, or the nurse retains the correct (drug-filled) syringe and replaces it with another filled with saline.

- Partial doses of medications are administered to patients while the nurse saves or uses the remainder.

- A nurse applies a skin patch to him- or herself before transferring it to the patient.

- A nurse removes syringes or ampules from a sharps waste container to scavenge any remaining drugs.

- The nurse has a colleague who, without actually witnessing the disposal, cosigns a record indicating waste while the nurse actually retains or takes the drug dose.

- The nurse obtains medications for patients who have not asked for them or who refused them.

- The nurse signs out medications for a patient who has been transferred.

All of these examples of diversion techniques have been documented, including cases in which patients have been infected with hepatitis C when a nurse used a syringe of opioid narcotic intended for them before replacing the missing contents with saline and injecting the patient [11]. One study found that 65% of nurses addicted to a pharmaceutical drug were diverting medication from their workplace [19]. Most addicted nurses in this study admitted to treating patients while impaired.

3. UNIQUE RISK FACTORS

In addition to the common risk factors for substance abuse in all individuals, several unique risk factors have been identified for nurses, including [9,15]:

- Positive attitudes toward drugs and drug use (i.e., "pharmacologic optimism")

- Relaxed physician prescribing practices in the facility

- Lack of pharmaceutical controls in a facility

- Little or no education regarding substance use disorders

- Enabling by peers and managers

- Role strain

The prevalence of substance misuse varies by nurse specialty. Critical care, psychiatric, emergency room, and oncology nurses have been found to have the highest rates of substance misuse, but alcohol misuse, particularly binge drinking (four or more drinks for women or five or more drinks per occasion for men), is a significant problem among oncology nurses [9,19]. Another study found that binge drinking was more common among all nurses than in the general population 35 years of age or older [10]. The Nurse Worklife and Wellness Study showed the highest rates of drug misuse among nurses occurred in those working in home health/hospice care (19%) followed by those working nursing homes (15.8%) [6]. In addition, staff nurses, charge nurses/coordinators/managers, and other administrators had 9- to 12-times the odds of substance use disorder compared with educators/researchers [6].

Gender is another factor for substance abuse in nursing professions. Male nurses are more likely to abuse substances and are over-represented in treatment programs [9]. However, the majority of RNs (90.9%) and LPNs (92.4%) in the United States are women; therefore, the vast majority of nurses with substance use disorders are women [9,12]. Studies have shown that men's addiction runs a more acute course, with less pronounced physical and mental effects; men also tend to seek help sooner for the actual addiction. In contrast, women's addiction tends to be prolonged, with a greater mental and physical toll. Women typically seek help for the manifestations of addiction, such as depression, anxiety, and insomnia, which can delay treatment for the root cause [9].

4. IDENTIFYING IMPAIRMENT IN THE WORKPLACE

It is important that nurses have the ability to recognize signs and symptoms of impaired practice and be able to differentiate a pattern of impairment from isolated incidents that may be caused by job stress. Studies have shown that most nurses are not able to accurately identify impairment in the workplace because they have little education on signs and symptoms of impairment in a professional setting and among other professionals [3,18]. This is compounded by the fact that some individuals, particularly experienced healthcare providers, may be able to function at a high level while under chemical influence. Failure to identify impairment or a belief that reporting is unnecessary because an individual is able to function normally despite alcohol/drug abuse may result in a failure to document and report suspected impairment, inadvertently enabling the substance abuse [3]. On the other hand, nurses who have the knowledge and confidence to identify impairment are empowered to confront colleagues and report their peers according to employer protocol.

DEFINITION OF IMPAIRMENT

The Florida Legislature defines impairment among health professionals as "potentially impairing health condition that is the result of the misuse or abuse of alcohol, drugs, or both, or a mental or physical condition that could affect a practitioner's ability to practice with skill and safety" [21]. As defined, Impaired practice is not strictly related to substance abuse disorders; common mental health disorders, such as depression and anxiety, have the potential to interfere with nurses' ability to provide adequate patient care as well [24]. In a meta-analysis of research related to the impact of mental disorders on the work performance of nurses and other healthcare professionals, strong evidence was found to support a relationship between mental disorders and general errors, medication errors, near errors, impaired patient safety, and decreased patient satisfaction [26]. This is a particular concern given the fact that nurses are at greater risk for certain mental health issues (e.g., depression) than the general public [24].

Physical disability may also impede nurses' performance, and steps should be taken to create disability inclusive workplaces [27]. Some nurses may be hesitant to disclose disabilities or known limitations for fear of losing their jobs [28]. Physical limitations are not grounds for dismissal, and failure to disclose poses a greater safety risk than working with healthcare professionals with known disabilities.

SIGNS OF IMPAIRMENT

Signs of impairment related to substance abuse among healthcare professionals fall into three general categories: job performance issues, emotional and mental status, and workplace drug diversion [7]. Impairment specifically related to substance abuse may present differently in nurses than in the general public. Signs of impairment related to job performance include [7,8,22]:

- An excessive number of mistakes at work (e.g., frequent medication errors, errors of judgment in patient care)

- "Job shrinkage" (i.e., the nurse progressively performs the minimal amount of work necessary)

- Increased difficulty meeting deadlines or adhering to schedules

- Frequent or unexplained disappearances

- Implausible and/or elaborate excuses for unusual behavior

- Dishonesty over trivial matters

- Illegible or sloppy charting

- Tremors or shaking

- Extended breaks or lunch hours

- Excessive absence due to alleged illness, particularly following scheduled days off

- Last-minute requests for time off

- Absence without notice

- Smell of alcohol or cannabis

- Excessive use of breath mints, chewing gum, mouthwash, or perfume

Signs of changes in emotional and mental status include [7,8,22]:

- Inappropriate or uncharacteristic responses to criticism (e.g., crying, uncontrolled anger, snapping at or arguing with colleagues)

- Emotional lability (e.g., becoming uncommonly gregarious or quiet, withdrawn, or irritable; has recurrent mood swings and is unpredictable)

- Reduced alertness (e.g., forgetfulness, preoccupation, appearing dazed and confused, slow reaction time)

- Increasing isolation from coworkers (e.g., avoiding informal staff gatherings, eating or taking breaks alone, requesting transfer to another shift)

- Increased and uncharacteristic problem with authority

- Change in dress and/or appearance

Signs that a healthcare professional is diverting drugs for personal use include [7,8,22]:

- Volunteering to work with patients who receive regular or large amounts of pain medication

- Consistently volunteering to be the medication administrator

- Often signing out more controlled drugs than coworkers

- Failing to obtain co-signatures

- Frequently reporting medication spills or other waste

- Reports reflecting excessive use of pain medications on patients

- Discrepancies in end-of-shift medication counts

- Evidence of tampering with vials, other drug containers, or medication counts

- Waiting until alone to open the narcotics box or cabinet, or disappearing after opening it

- An increase in patients' complaints of unrelieved pain

- Defensiveness when questioned about medication errors

- Consistently coming to work early and staying late

Nurse supervisors and managers should maintain an active role in identifying impairment in the workplace by refusing to allow personal manipulation by another nurse or to fear confronting a nurse if patient safety is in jeopardy. It is important to reduce or change a nurse's role or patient assignment and not accept excuses for or ignore poor performance [16]. Several tools have been developed to assess nurses' job performance and fitness for work, such as the Common Risky Behaviors Checklist, which assesses five dimensions: absence/tardiness, cognitive impairment, unprofessional communication/boundaries, physical impairment, and drug diversion [24,25]. These measures may be completed by supervisors or individual nurses (i.e., self-report).

5. REPORTING COLLEAGUES AND MANDATORY REPORTING LAW

Florida law requires that a Board-licensed nurse make a good faith report of another individual's known workplace impairment, whether the situation is acute or there is growing suspicion. But, reporting a colleague is a decision with which many nurses struggle [3]. Experienced, older nurses are more likely to report impairment because they have likely witnessed the negative effects in coworkers at some point; younger and less experienced nurses are less likely to report. Many professionals choose to ignore the problem because they think someone else will or is already handling the situation [1,3]. One study identified several factors that contribute to failure to report by coworkers, including feeling like a "tattle-tale," fear of revenge or retaliation, fear the colleague might react in a violent manner, not wanting to be responsible for jeopardizing a colleague's job, not being confident enough in one's own observations or instincts to confront a colleague, not being an expert in chemical dependence, and believing the intervention would be better dealt with by an expert [3]. Although these concerns may be valid, nursing is a profession that holds patient safety and healing as the highest duty—and not one of these concerns seems related to protecting patients. Furthermore, few of the reasons for non-reporting show any regard for helping a coworker to heal. Nursing is about action, and there is no excuse for failing to act.

FLORIDA LAW

The Florida Statutes Chapter 464.018 Disciplinary Actions defines nursing impairment and describes the conditions and actions an impaired nurse will face. The section states that the following constitutes grounds for disciplinary action or denial of a license [14]:

Being unable to practice nursing with reasonable skill and safety to patients by reason of illness or use of alcohol, drugs, narcotics, or chemicals or any other type of material or as a result of any mental or physical condition. In enforcing this paragraph, the department shall have, upon a finding of the State Surgeon General or the State Surgeon General's designee that probable cause exists to believe that the licensee is unable to practice nursing because of the reasons stated in this paragraph, the authority to issue an order to compel a licensee to submit to a mental or physical examination by physicians designated by the department. If the nurse refuses to comply with such order, the department's order directing such examination may be enforced by filing a petition for enforcement in the circuit court where the nurse resides or does business. The nurse against whom the petition is filed shall not be named or identified by initials in any public court records or documents, and the proceedings shall be closed to the public…A nurse affected by this paragraph shall at reasonable intervals be afforded an opportunity to demonstrate that she or he can resume the competent practice of nursing with reasonable skill and safety to patients.

The Florida Statutes Chapter 464.018 Disciplinary Actions also contains the mandatory reporting law. Reporting known impairment in Florida is mandatory, not optional. Failure to report an impaired individual who is providing health care can lead to disciplinary action by the Board of Nursing. The following act constitutes grounds for denial of a license or disciplinary action [14]:

Failing to report to the department any person who the nurse knows is in violation of this part or of the rules of the department or the board. However, a person who the licensee knows is unable to practice nursing with reasonable skill and safety to patients by reason of illness or use of alcohol, drugs, narcotics, chemicals, or any other type of material, or as a result of a mental or physical condition, may be reported to a consultant operating an impaired practitioner program...rather than to the department.

HOW TO REPORT AN IMPAIRED NURSE

Nurses should be familiar with their organization's policies and procedures for reporting employee substance abuse or other impairment and those regarding assistance programs [2,16]. When aware of the resources available to an impaired nurse, including the process, programs, and benefits of employee assistance programs or alternative-to-discipline programs, nurses are better prepared and more likely to report impairment. In 1983, the Florida legislature established the IPN as a contact point for nursing impairment reporting, as a treatment and rehabilitation facilitator, and as a monitoring program for impaired nurses within the state [20]. Florida nurses are required to report suspected impaired practice to the IPN and/or the Florida Department of Health [21]. Reporting to either of these entities fulfills the mandatory reporting obligation. With the knowledge that recovery, nonpunitive rehabilitation, and returning to work are the goals of such programs, nurses should feel confident that their colleagues will receive the help they need to overcome their impairment [3]. In the long-term, the report will be beneficial to the impaired nurse, and in the short-term, patients are being protected from harm.

Before making a report, documenting changes in the suspected nurses' behavior and work performance is recommended [16]. The signs and symptoms listed in the previous section of this course are a good starting point. Taking note of specific actions or behaviors will help when making the report and/or expressing concerns to a colleague or supervisee.

In the past, professional organizations recommended confronting the impaired colleague directly, but this strategy was found to be unrealistic and is no longer universally endorsed [2,3,16,22]. The 2025 ANA Code of Ethics states that "when nurses become aware of professional practice concerns, nurses express those concerns to the person involved when time and conditions allow, focusing on the patient's interests as well as on the integrity of nursing practice. When practices threaten the welfare of the patient, nurses express their concern to the responsible manager or administrator and escalate as indicated. If practice concerns are not corrected, nurses report the problem to appropriate external authorities such as licensing boards and regulatory or accreditation agencies. Nurses should use established processes for reporting and handling professional practice concerns" [2]. The Code further states that "nurses protect the patient, the public, and the profession from potential harm when practice appears to be impaired. Nurses extend compassion and caring to a colleague whose job performance may be adversely affected by mental or physical states, fatigue, substance misuse, or personal circumstances," and that "nurses follow policies of the employing organization and should be aware of guidelines outlined by the profession and relevant laws" [2]. The Florida Nurse Practice Act clearly states that the IPN or the Department of Health must be notified, but does not specify how an intervention must proceed [20].

Some sources suggest that the best outcomes are achieved when a professional or other personnel trained in intervention confronts the individual [22]. Many facilities have employee assistance or human resources personnel who are trained to intervene. The IPN offers intervention training [23].

The ANA Code of Ethics also provides the following additional advice regarding intervening in cases of suspected workplace impairment [2]:

- The nurse should extend compassion and caring to colleagues throughout the processes of remediation, recovery, and restoration.

- Nurses in all roles should be knowledgeable about the risks and signs of impaired practice and are responsible for identifying and reporting signs of impairment.

- Care must also be taken in identifying impairment in one's own practice and in seeking immediate assistance.

- Nurses in leadership roles should identify legal structures for intervention programs to assist nurses whose practice may be impaired.

- Nurses who report those whose job performance creates risk should be protected from retaliation or other negative consequences.

- If workplace policies for the protection of impaired nurses do not exist or are inappropriate—that is, they deny the nurse who is reported access to due legal process or they demand resignation—nurses may obtain guidance from professional associations, state peer assistance programs, employee assistance programs, or similar resources.

6. TREATMENT PROGRAMS

When a nurse is reported to either the IPN or the Department of Health, the referral triggers a consultation with the reporter and/or the employer of the impaired nurse [1]. This is followed by an intervention and evaluation. The intervention typically occurs one to three days after a report (whereas a standard disciplinary process typically takes 9 to 12 months to remove a nurse from practice) [1]. If a nurse self-reports to the IPN, the intake and evaluation process begins immediately. In Florida, the IPN is charged with accepting reports, evaluating referrals, determining the proper course of action, monitoring the nurse's progress in treatment, and case managing all individuals returning to work [13]. The IPN program objectives are to [13]:

- Ensure public health and safety through a program that provides close monitoring of nurses who are unsafe to practice due to the use of drugs, including alcohol, and/or psychiatric, psychologic, or physical condition

- Require the nurse to withdraw from practice immediately, and until such time that the IPN is assured that he/she is able to safely return to the practice of nursing

- Facilitate early intervention, thereby decreasing the time between the nurse's acknowledgment of the problem and his/her entry into a recovery program

- Provide a program for affected nurses to be rehabilitated in a therapeutic, non-punitive, and confidential process

- Provide an opportunity for retention of nurses within the nursing profession

- Provide a cost-effective alternative to the traditional disciplinary process

- Develop a statewide resource network for referring nurses to appropriate services

- Provide confidential consultations for nurse managers

Although the IPN assesses referrals to the program to decide the best course of action for the individual, the program does not actually provide treatment for addiction or other diseases/disorders. Rather, the IPN directs individuals to approved treatment programs and providers [1]. Additional services provided by the IPN include advocacy for participants; tracking meeting attendance and discussing recovery progress with group facilitators; comprehensive monitoring of nurses following discharge from treatment; providing random drug screening of participants and detecting relapse; and reporting compliance issues to the proper authority [1,13]. If at any time during the process the nurse refuses to participate in the program or fails to comply with program guidelines, including after returning to work, the individual is referred to the Department of Health for discipline, which entails investigation, hearings, and disciplinary action.

RETURNING TO WORK

Following completion of approved treatment, the IPN determines if nurses in the program are ready to return to practice based on several criteria, including the individual's stability in recovery, cognitive functioning, decision-making/problem-solving ability, use of good judgment, ability to deal with stressful situations, and development of a support system [1]. A signed advocacy contract and completed relapse prevention workbook must also be submitted. Stability in recovery is crucial and is indicated by advocacy contract compliance, consistently negative random urine drug screens, regular attendance at support and monitoring groups, and favorable monitoring reports [1]. Progress reports are generated by treatment providers, nurse support group facilitators, and by the nurses in recovery (i.e., self-reports).

The support system for nurses returning to work includes a weekly support group for ongoing self-care and relapse prevention. A coworker is also established as a workplace monitor to provide feedback to the IPN on the nurse's job performance [1]. If a nurse was referred to the IPN due to pharmaceutical use or diversion, it is recommended that the nurse be assigned a labor exchange colleague assigned to handle patient medication duties. Other restrictions for these individuals may include no overtime or floating; no multiple employers; and no agency, hospice, or home care employment [1].

The Florida Board of Nursing allows nurses two opportunities to return to work after referral for diversion of drugs or narcotics [14]. A nurse will not have their license reinstated after a third violation of drug diversion for sale or personal use.

7. PROMOTING SAFETY IN THE WORKPLACE AND PROVIDING ASSISTANCE

Employers should have clear policies and procedures for fostering and maintaining a drug- and alcohol-free workplace and ensuring that nurses are fit to practice. When system deficiencies are found to exist, these should be remedied. Employees benefit from a sense that policies are enforced equally and without exception; otherwise, uncertainty will exist as to whether poor behavior is overlooked or ignored if an employee is well liked or has perceived seniority. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) recommends several employer policies to promote safety, including drug testing before employment, testing when there is suspicion of drug use, and conducting regular fitness-to-practice evaluations [9].

All employees should be familiar with and abide by their facility's policies, guidelines, and procedures. The NCSBN recommends that nurses be familiar with procedures (internal and external) related to how to document concerns, how and when to report impairment, return to practice after treatment, and relapse management [9]. Nurses should also be provided with information about employee assistance programs (if applicable), including a clear understanding of the confidentiality of such programs.

Works Cited

1. National Council of State Boards of Nursing. Nursing Regulation: Discipline. Available at https://www.ncsbn.org/alternative-to-discipline. Last accessed September 26, 2025.

2. American Nurses Association. Code of Ethics for Nurses. Silver Spring, MD: American Nurses Association; 2025.

3. Bettinardi-Angres K, Bologeorges S. Addressing chemically dependent colleagues. J Nurs Reg. 2011;2(2):10-17.

4. Rathburn J. Destigmatizing alcohol use disorder among nurses. Nursing. 2022;52(7):23-29.

5. Hudspeth R. Survey of advanced practice registered nurses disciplinary action. Online J Issues Nurs. 2007;12(2):7.

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