Getting Peer Assistance Help for Yourself and Others

AANA / Resources / Wellness and Peer Assistance

Getting Peer Assistance Help for Yourself and Others

If you or someone you know needs assistance, help is available.

If the problem is life threatening or in need of immediate help the options are:

Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room or treatment center
Suicide Hotline: 1(800) 273-TALK (8255). Veterans, press extension 1.

If the problem is not life threatening, see the options below for seeking assistance for chemical dependency of substance misuse.

Signs and Behaviors of Impaired Colleagues

Learn to recognize the symptoms of drug misuse and chemical dependency in anesthesia providers.

Alcohol and drug misuse are progressive diseases and can shatter lives. Professionals who voluntarily seek help do have options that may reduce the consequences.

If you recognize the problem is urgent:

Do not attempt an intervention alone. Refer to the below "Do's and Don'ts of Conducting an Intervention" and contact one of these resources for help:

Call for peer assistance in your state for state specific resources
When needed, you can also call the national Peer Assistance Helpline (800) 654-5167

See the treatment recommendations and links to treatment centers specializing in anesthesia professionals.

If you recognize that a colleague is in trouble:

Do not attempt an intervention alone. Refer to the below "Do's and Don'ts of Conducting an Intervention" and contact one of these resources for help:

Call for peer assistance in your state for state specific resources
When needed, you can also call the national Peer Assistance Helpline (800) 654-5167
Follow workplace policy for guidance
Contact your Employee Assistance Program (EAP) representative. Generally your human resources department will have information on an EAP if available.

See the treatment recommendations and links to treatment centers specializing in anesthesia professionals.

Do's and Don'ts of Conducting an Intervention

Include a trained interventionalist, family, spouse, and colleagues.
Include as many people as you can and be sensitive to gender.
Bring all the evidence.
Get a properly collected drug screen.
Do not let the person out of your sight! Do not let them drive!
Have a bed in a treatment facility ready

Do no let the addict decide their treatment. Remember, they are sick.
See above link to treatment centers.
Our experience shows the inpatient treatment works best. Stay for as long as you can.

When all else fails, threaten to call the police. Often, this will cause the individual to admit that he/she has a serious problem.

Source: Bryson EO, Hamza, H. The Drug Seeking Anesthesia Care Provider. International Anesthesiology Clinics. Winter 2010:49:157-71.

Health & Wellness Contacts

Peer Assistance in Your State:
Directory of State Peer Advisors, Chemical Dependency Programs,
and State Boards of Nursing

Peer Assistance Helpline
(800) 654-5167

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Hotline
1 (800) 273-TALK

Anesthetists in Recovery (AIR)
(215) 635-0183

Art Zwerling, CRNA, DNP, DAAPM
Chair, AANA Peer Assistance
Advisors Committee
a.to.z@comcast.net

Janet Dewan, CRNA, MS
Chair, AANA Health & Wellness Committee
j.dewan@neu.edu

AANA Staff:
Julie Rice, Wellness Specialist
(847) 655-1114
jrice@aana.com or
wellness@aana.com

Reasons to seek help:

Alcohol and drug misuse are progressive diseases. The consequences of not seeking help for nurse anesthetists and other healthcare professionals include:

Damage to physical and mental health
Workplace mistakes
Impaired decision making threatens patient safety
Risk of malpractice
Felony convictions
Loss or restrictions on nursing license
Prohibited from CRNA practice
Financial loss
Family distress and ultimate loss
Accidents, and
Death

Re-Entry to Work

Anesthesia providers face special occupational risks and challenges when returning to the workplace. See the post treatment recommendations.