Free safety symposium for impaired healthcare professionals

The free Patient & Provider Safety Symposium will be held by the Indiana Professionals Recovery Program (IPRP), a monitoring program for nurses who are currently struggling with substance use disorder. This virtual symposium on Friday, Oct. 15 will educate and expand the knowledge of healthcare providers and employers on nurse monitoring and reporting impaired employees or co-workers. 

IPRP helps protect the health, safety and welfare of patients that could be at risk from an impaired provider. 

“Identifying a nurse who is struggling with addiction can be difficult, as they often don’t fit the stereotype of a typical user,” said Tracy Traut, program director of Indiana Professionals Recovery Program. “IPRP can offer information and education in order to assist in the reporting process. We are here to help.” 

The American Journal of Nursing estimates that 3-6 percent of nurses are currently engaged in active drug or alcohol use and addiction. 

The first session of the symposium will address worksite monitors and employee assistance programs (EAPs), with discussion on specifics of narcotics restrictions, the importance of reporting, worksite monitors role, and more. The second session of the day will focus on monitoring participants, with a discussion of anxiety and fear surrounding access to controlled substances, cross-addiction, addiction and prescription medications – ending with a question- and-answer session with clinical case managers. 

For more information on the free virtual symposium and to register, visit inprp.org/about/events or search “Provider & Patient Safety Symposium 2021” on Eventbrite by Friday, Oct 1. 

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