The Impaired Healthcare Worker: Behaviors, Effects, and Concerns (NA1782_O)
Author(s): Patsy Barnes, RN, BA
Pre-Approved for:
Credit Hours: 4
Course Format
This course is online. All course material is available online and is accessible immediately after purchase from your account homepage. Certificate of Completion is available immediately upon passing the exam.
Course Overview
This course discusses the difficulty that impaired healthcare workers present to institutions, themselves, and patients. We present classic signs of impaired behavior, as well as the responsibility of reporting such behaviors promptly to the proper authorities. Multiple case studies are presented for discussion. The Codes of Conduct for CDMS, CRC, CCM and Nursing will be examined to gain recommendations for dealing with the ethical dilemmas involved in impairment.
*CCM, CRC, CDMS, and CLCP ETHICS CREDIT APPROVED. The CCMC Professional Conduct will be referenced in this presentation.
Course Objectives
- Define impairment and its effect on patient care, the healthcare worker, and the institution.
- Explain drug diversion and its impact on patient care, the healthcare worker and the institution.
- Discuss various behaviors associated with impairment in the workplace.
- Describe the responsibility of reporting an impaired coworker.
- List the ethical dilemmas involved in impairment in the workplace and the process for determining action.
- Explain what the Codes of Conduct for CDMS, CRC, CCM, and Nursing state about impairment and reporting of colleagues who break the codes.
Course Outline
- Introduction
- Overview:
a.) Definition of Impairment
b.) Risk Factors
c.) Recognizing Impairment - Signs and Symptoms
d.) Incidence of Addiction
e.) Diversion
- Cost to the Facilities
- Cost to the Healthcare Worker
a.) Case Studies
- Cost to Patients
- Ethics of Impairment
- Codes of Conduct