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Anesthetists in Recovery (AIR) is a national network of nurse anesthetists who are in recovery from chemical dependency and substance misuse. It is an organization involved with both education and networking for reasons of peer assistance. We respond to impaired anesthetists who call the national hotline or email the Peer Assistance Advisors and offer support, guidance and hope.
Members of AIR agree with the definition set forth by the AMA, that chemical dependency is a primary, psychosocial, and biogenetic disease. The symptoms of the disease are cunning and baffling as is the disease itself. Although AIR knows there is no cure for this disease, they affirm that there can be lifelong remission contingent on prompt detection, intervention, treatment, and a closely followed aftercare program involving 12-step groups, peer support groups, and of most importance, carefully timed and placed reentry into the anesthesia profession.
It is the belief of AIR's recovering anesthetists that reentry must be structured and that tools such as back-to-work contracts should be utilized. There are recovering anesthetists working all over the country today. They are disciplined professionals who are grateful to be in recovery.
An attempt is made at every AANA Annual Meeting to provide an AIR meeting on site. AIR meetings are also encouraged for every state nurse anesthesia association meeting.
AIR For Sobriety is a national moderated e-group that consists of CRNAs/student nurse anesthetists that are in recovery or need of recovery from chemical dependency. It is absolutely confidential and anonymous and has no affiliation with any other organization. Members can post at whatever level of sharing that they are comfortable with. We have no reporting function with any certifying or licensure body.
Our primary purpose is to help one another achieve and maintain sobriety/clean time and reach out to the student nurse anesthetist/CRNA that still suffers.
AIR - for more information or to join now
Partners in Recovery is an online e-group for mutual support for the partners/significant others of CRNAs or student nurse anesthetists that are in recovery from chemical dependency or in need of recovery from chemical dependency.
PAIR - for more information or to join now
Article: Anesthetists in Recovery, Chemical Dependency in the Profession
In Memoriam, Carlos "Rusty" Ratliff, CRNA
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