NURSES DEMAND ANONYMITY

Don't Name Those Caught Abusing Booze, Drugs: Union

Nurses caught abusing drugs and alcohol on the job should not be
publicly named, union officials argue, calling it a "disturbing"
violation that impedes their struggle to recover from addiction.

The Manitoba Nurses Union plans to challenge existing legislation
that allows the College of Registered Nurses to publish the names of
nurses disciplined for abusing mood-altering drugs at work.

Currently, any nurses censured for professional misconduct have their
name and details of their violations printed in the RN Journal, a
publication posted online and distributed to 11,000 Manitoba nurses.

The college argues the discipline process is open, transparent and
helps protect patient safety.

Union president Sandi Mowat said it's inappropriate to broadcast
someone's struggle with addiction. She said officials will ask the
province to amend the act when it updates health-worker legislation this year.

A resolution to stop naming nurses busted for drug abuse passed at
the union's recent annual general meeting. Mowat said the idea was
spawned by a group of nurses whose colleague was publicly named and
shamed for her addiction.

"They were quite disturbed by the whole thing because this nurse has
worked hard to get her life back together," Mowat said. "These nurses
are ill. We go a long way in this province to protect personal health
information and in my mind this is treating nurses like second-class citizens."

Last year, four nurses were discovered abusing alcohol, cocaine and
other narcotics at work -- including instances where mood-altering
drugs were stolen from hospitals or health-care facilities.

Their names were made public in January, and a Free Press story about
the issue sparked immediate backlash from some nurses.

The college disciplinary committee has said nurses who are
disciplined for substance abuse have repeatedly failed to get proper
treatment or are unwilling to do so. The discipline process is
usually the last resort, and outlines orders the addicted nurses must
follow -- including entering drug treatment programs or undergoing
random urine screens -- in order to keep their licences and protect
public safety.

Sue Neilson, the college's executive director, said the process
protects patients since it ensures nurses meet a certain standard of care.

Neilson said current legislation allows them to publish the names and
hold nurses to account.

"It's open, transparent and available to the public," Neilson said.
"It's so the public can know that their care is meeting a standard."

Arthur Schafer, professor of ethics at the University of Manitoba,
said there is merit in publishing the names of nurses caught abusing
narcotics or alcohol at work. Schafer said the idea that ill nurses
shouldn't be punished for their addictions shirks their
responsibility not to endanger patients.

He said penalties should encourage addicted nurses to seek help and
prompt colleagues to report anyone with a substance abuse problem
before it leads to dangerous or inappropriate behaviour.

"Shaming is a way of denouncing it. Maybe people should be ashamed,"
Schafer said.

"At some point, if they don't stop and seek help, it might be
appropriate to blame them."

More than half of nurses disciplined by the college since 2003 were
punished for abusing drugs or alcohol on the job.