Mandated by the Nurse Practice Act, the Colorado Nurse Health
Program is designed to provide an alternative to the State Board of
Nursing's disciplinary process for nurses who are chemically dependent or
have mental health issues.
Our purpose is to reasonably ensure
patient safety while providing the nurse an opportunity to get into
treatment and recovery, keep his/her license, and go back to
work.
How we ensure patient safety:
We require that the
nurse maintain a strong recovery program, a treatment and monitoring
contract, and a well planned back-to-work agreement.
What we can
do for nurses:
We arrange for an assessment and make referrals to
treatment, support groups and other elements essential to the recovery
process.
We can coordinate referrals with your Employee Assistance
Program.
If a complaint has been made to the State Board of
Nursing, we can meet with the nurse and a member of the SBON staff and
discuss options. Usually, the nurse is given the opportunity to go through
our program rather than the disciplinary process.
We provide case
management and monitor contract requirements.
We offer nurse peer
support groups.
We provide life skills classes, including
self-care, pain management, family issues, and life
management.
What we can do for managers:
Provide
education and training regarding the recognition of impaired practice and
how to intervene appropriately.
Assist in the development of
policies that are fair and consistent, including the issues of fitness for
duty and back-to-work parameters.
We can assist in the coordination
of back-to-work programs.
We can facilitate the transition of a
nurse back into the workplace, including groups with co-workers with the
participant's consent. |
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