Substance use and misuse among nursing students

Substance use among nurses and nursing students creates a dangerous environment for the delivery of safe and effective patient care. This qualitative study used a phenomenological research design to explore the knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of nursing students about substance use and the factors that can influence behaviors and decisions that nursing students make with respect to using drugs and seeking help. Gatekeeping Theory (Lewin, 1947) and Deterrence Theory (Haack & Yocom, 2002) provided the framework and guidance to answer the following research questions 1) What do nursing students perceive as factors that contribute to substance use disorders among nursing students? a.) What do recent nursing student graduates perceive as factors that contribute to substance use disorders among nursing students? 2) What do lived experiences of nursing students reveal about how nursing students with substance use disorders seek help? a.) What do lived experiences of recent nursing student graduates reveal about how nursing students with substance use disorders seek help? 3) Based on the lived experiences of nursing students, what types of strategies are found to be effective in managing substance use among nursing students? a.) Based on the lived experiences of recent nursing student graduates, what types of strategies are found to be effective in managing substance use among nursing students? Findings revealed six themes: a) mental health related issues b) stressors as contributing factors to substance use and misuse, c) fears and reservations d) stigma, e) seeking help, and f) awareness. The results and conclusions became the foundation for the final recommendations focused on strategies to address contributing factors that may influence a student's decision to use drugs. The four recommendations are a) identify an administrator or faculty member as a confidential resource for seeking help b) identify nursing students at risk for developing substance use disorders, c) incorporate substance use and misuse within the nursing profession into the undergraduate curriculum, and d) develop a universal manual describing substance use policies and resources for seeking help.