Attitudes of registered nurses toward perceived substance abusing peers and education specific to substance abuse.

A randomized study of 86 senior registered nurse BSN student nurses was conducted to: 1) examine registered nurses' awareness of the effects of substance abuse on their profession; 2) determine their attitudes toward education specific to substance abuse; 3) determine attitudes toward peers perceived as substance abusers; and 4) elicit responses to viewing education as a possible deterrent to drug addiction. Factor analysis for the subscales yielded Cronbach alpha coefficient reliabilities of 0.78 to 0.39. Selected cross tabulations for the independent variables showed no significant influence on the attitudes of respondents. A significant percentage of respondents believed that there was a drug problem in the profession, supported the idea of an educational program on substance abuse, and felt that a specific course could be a deterrent to drug addiction. A significant number also wanted to support the chemically impaired nurse but were less positive about the return of this person to the work place before complete rehabilitation.