Perceptions and attitudes toward nursing impairment.

Perceptions and attitudes toward nursing impairment held by 1,047 registered nurses were examined. Factor analysis of the 32 Likert-type items in an original survey questionnaire revealed an underlying structure of nine dimensions characterizing attitudes toward impairment. Analyses of variance and covariance gave evidence that supervisors were more likely than staff nurses to perceive a need for disciplinary action in responding to cases of nursing impairment; staff nurses were more likely to view impairment as treatable. Significant differences were found among attitudes toward drug abuse, alcohol abuse, and emotional distress as forms of impairment.