Update: Practitioner Wellness and Peer Assistance
Chair and State Peer Assistance Advisor: Jack Stem
Co-chair: Lynn Reede, CRNA
State Peer Assistance Advisor: Gregg Rampleman, CRNA
At the OSANA Committees meeting November 3, 2007, the Ad Hoc Wellness/ Peer Assistance Committee discussed goals and plans to achieve these goals in 2007/2008.
Patient safety is the most important concern of any professional health care provider, and practitioner wellness is a major concern of the OSANA and the AANA. Nurse anesthetists provide nearly 65% of all anesthetics in the United States. The majority of anesthesia services in the military and in rural America are provided by CRNA's. Due to the unique nature of our profession, the nurse anesthesia provider is exposed to stressful conditions, odd and sometimes prolonged working hours. As a result, learning to deal with stress in a healthy manner is key to a long, successful career.
The AANA recognizes the stress involved in training for the profession, as well as practicing anesthesia, increases the risk of dealing with stress and fatigue inappropriately. The use of mood altering substances to "unwind" or "wake up" significantly increases the risk of substance abuse in the anesthetist. In fact, the AANA recognizes that the number one health risk associated with the practice of anesthesia is substance abuse (SA) and chemical dependency (CD). Because it is difficult to gather accurate statistics, we don't know the exact percentage of anesthesia providers affected, but it is safe to say it is not less than the general population rate of 10-12%. While practitioner impairment can be a result of any number of causes, SA and CD account for 85% of all instances of anesthetist impairment. Because SA and CD can be prevented, the AANA and OSANA have developed a national Peer Assistance Advisors committee as well as State Peer Assistance Advisors. The primary functions of these advisors, is to educate anesthesia professionals, faculty and students regarding the inherent risks of SA and CD in our profession. They also provide information and education about the disease of chemical dependency and the signs and symptoms of SA/ CD in anesthesia practitioners. Early recognition and intervention are the keys to successful intervention and treatment of chemical dependence.
Mission Statement for OSANA's Wellness/ Peer Assistance Committee
To promote public safety through participation of potentially impaired nurse anesthesia professionals, clinicians, faculty, and students, in monitored rehabilitation and recovery as an alternative to license discipline, emphasizing fitness to practice and retention of competent professionals. OSANA and the Wellness/ Peer Assistance Committee are committed to working in cooperation with regulatory and professional organizations toward this objective. The peer assistance advisors will be contacting Ohio's program directors to schedule lectures and discussions with all students and faculty. Please feel free to contact the OSANA for any questions or additional information regarding peer assistance and how we might assist you in maintaining a healthy, successful, and long career in anesthesia.
We will have a series of articles providing an in-depth look at peer assistance and wellness in future issues of the OSANA Highlights newsletter.
You can contact the members of the peer assistance committee by email or phone:
