For which nurse would the concern about chemical abuse be most appropr

QUESTION

For which nurse would the concern about chemical abuse be most appropriate?

1. A nurse who avoids colleagues and friends and has frequent mood swings.
2. A nurse who requests night shifts because of increasing financial responsibilities.
3. A nurse who always comes to work 15 minutes early by bus.
4. A nurse who arrives late for work with the excuse of a flat tire.

ANSWER:

Correct Answer: 1

Increasing isolation from colleagues, friends and family, mood swings, irritability, and depression are behavioral indicators of chemical abuse. The request for night shifts may also be a behavioral indicator, but in this case there is an apparent reason for the request. Arriving early or staying late for no reason may be a behavioral indicator, but this nurse is likely early because of the bus schedule. Arriving late with an excuse of a flat tire may be a behavioral indicator if lateness is chronic and excuses become redundant. In this question, the most suspicious behavior is that of isolation and mood swings.