Substance Use Disorder in Nursing

Substance use disorder (SUD) is a challenging and complex issue for the nursing profession. Supportive and educated supervisors and colleagues help to identify nurses with this disease, so they can receive the help they need promptly.

Concerned and preoccupied with your own responsibilities and duties, you may not always recognize the warning signs of an SUD in a nurse co-worker or colleague. You may misread cues and look for other explanations for behaviors. That’s why many nurses with SUD are unidentified, unreported, untreated and may continue to practice where their impairment may endanger the lives of their patients.