| This dissertation describes substance abuse treatment issues relating to professional nurses, specifically investigating factors relating to reasons for barriers to treatment, seeking treatment, and potential for long-term recovery. Quantitative and qualitative methodologies were used to obtain data from focus groups in six San Francisco Bay Area communities. Qualitative analysis of transcripts revealed key concepts for each of the issues. Concepts associated with barriers to seeking treatment were feelings, risk factors, addiction education, and stigma. For treatment motivation, these were intervention options, self-appraisal, and support potential. Finally, analysis of data pertaining to maintenance of long-term recovery revealed the core concepts described by self-growth, helping others, and spiritual awakenings.;The Stages of Change (DiClemente & Prochaska, 1998) provided the conceptual framework in this study. Findings revealed a significant number of nurses who identified as codependent in the precontemplation, contemplation, and action stages of change. Non-codependents scored higher in the precontemplation stage only. Surprisingly, there was no significance in the length in years of recovery and the stages of change. Results also revealed a significant mean maintenance score between specialty areas of nursing practice and critical care nurses and between the nurses in specialty areas and nurses in outpatient services. Nurses in specialty areas had a higher mean score in maintenance than outpatient services or critical care nurses.;Key words and phrases. substance abuse, substance use, substance dependence, addiction, abuse, alcoholic, drug addict, chemically dependent, registered nurses, addicted nurse, impaired nurse, Board of Registered Nursing, diversion, substance abuse treatment, stages of change, withdrawal, long-term recovery, social support, Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, Al-Anon, Nar-Anon, focus groups. |
