WELCOME to UnbecomingANurse.org

A must-read for...

*Nurses   *Nursing students   *Nursing educators   *Anyone working with or living with a nurse

Until now, the dilemma of chemical dependency in the nursing profession has not received the factual, unbiased and sensitive treatment that this complex issue merits. By all accounts, the most conservative estimate is that one in ten nurses will develop a problem with drugs and/or alcohol within their lifetime. Some studies suggest the prevalence is double that. Given the millions of nurses licensed in the United States alone, even the lower assessment of ten percent represents nearly five hundred thousand individuals. If one were to calculate this number on an annual basis over a seventy year span, this would mean that more than seven thousand nurses cross an invisible line into what often becomes a very visible problem each year in this country. Read More...

NEWS: Read the first Pilot Test Study on the SHUNT Self-Survey for Nurses Read more...

Future Event:

February 7th, 2010: Sigma Theta Tau International Sunday Brunch with presentation on "Addiction in Nurses: 20/20 Vision for 2010 and Beyond" from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information see the Speaking page.


Reviews

I have read "Unbecoming A Nurse" and it is very well written and summarizes what we do in monitoring very well! --Chuck Lindquist, MA, M. Div., Program Director: Indiana State Nurses Assistance Program (ISNAP)

I have personally read the book several times and can say that with each read I gain some additional insight into the issues surrounding addiction. I highly recommend this book to all nurses. -- Karen J. Halpern, RN, BSN, MSN, JD

Paula Davies Scimeca's book is a must-read for anyone connected to the nursing profession, no matter how closely or remotely Ð- Sheryl Letzgus McGinnis, author, "I Am Your Disease (The Many Faces of Addiction)"

Unbecoming a Nurse is a must read for every health care professional. --Larry Golbom, R.Ph., MBA, and Host of The Prescription Addiction Radio Show – Breaking the Silence

Scimeca's book is well-written, clear, cogent, and carries the conviction and dedication of its writer. --Jennie L. Brown, Professor Emeritus, Western Kentucky University and Author of "Blue Moon Rising."

Read Book Excerpts...

Read Book Reviews...

Buy the Book!

PURCHASE ORDERS from nursing schools are being accepted. Please request a price quote for the number of books desired by emailing sales@unbecominganurse.org or by calling 718-227-1469.


Attention: Calling All Nurses in Recovery!

The sequel to Unbecoming A Nurse, a collection of stories of nurses in long-term recovery, is underway. Are you a nurse willing to share your own personal story of addiction and long-term recovery? With the deepest respect for your personal anonymity as well as the struggle, heartache, foibles and triumphs recovery entails, I invite you to share your story. Doubt you can write your story? Need help or encouragement getting started? Prefer to tell me your story verbally and have me write a draft for you to amend and then submit? READ MORE on the NEWS page.

Hear Ms. Scimeca on Radio!

Hear The Prescription Addiction Radio Show host Larry Golbom's interviews with Ms. Scimeca, which were originally broadcast on March 22nd, July 19th, and October 18th, 2009, via internet at http://www.prescriptionaddictionradio.com/shows.cfm.

Hear Healthstyles host Diana Mason's interview with Ms. Scimeca at http://archive.wbai.org/allshows.php?sort=nameaz by scrolling down to Healthstyles September 18th, 2009.

Take the Self-Survey!

Nurses and student nurses: Take the SHUNT Self-Survey For Nurses™ to see what traits are present which may increase your risk of becoming chemically dependent.

About the Author

Paula Davies Scimeca, RN, MS, obtained her baccalaureate degree in nursing from Adelphi University and her graduate degree from SUNY Stony Brook. Her career has spanned over three decades, with the first ten years spent in medical, surgical and critical care nursing. She has over twenty years experience in addiction and psychiatric nursing, as well as a background in occupational health, case management and legal nurse consulting. Since 2003, her professional endeavors have been solely devoted to chemical dependency in nurses.

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