States work to increase enrollment in alternative-to-discipline programs

The first alternative-to-discipline programs became available in the 1980s and spread to more than 40 states, but relatively few nurses impaired by substance use choose to enroll in them. The stigma surrounding substance abuse, the demands of some programs and a lack awareness of the programs’ existence all contribute to low enrollment. Two states, Florida and Alabama, are implementing strategies to up enrollment, according to an article in the January issue of the American Journal of Nursing. Alabama launched a public awareness campaign in 2017, which doubled the number of nurses in its monitoring program, and Florida developed supervisor training and a continuing education course for all licensed nurses to increase their ability to recognize on-the-job impairment.