§334D-1 - Findings and purpose.

[§334D-1]  Findings and purpose. Nursing is a stressful occupation and some nurses may be tempted to escape thepressures of their job by consuming alcohol or taking drugs.  Many times nursesdo not realize that they have developed a chemical dependency problem, and thatthey need help before the problem gets worse. 

The legislature finds that there is no formalpeer program to assist nurses who have developed a chemical dependencyproblem.  There is, however, an informal peer program operated by the HawaiiNurses Association.  This is a peer assistance program for nurses who have notbeen reported to the department of commerce and consumer affairs because of achemical dependency problem.  The diversion program created by this chapter isa component of the Hawaii Nurses Association’s peer assistance program, and isintended for nurses who have been reported to the department of commerce andconsumer affairs.

The purpose of this chapter is to establish adiversion program for nurses with chemical dependency problems and to place theprogram under the auspices of the board of nursing for oversight purposes.  Itis the intent of this chapter that nurses who are abiding by the terms andconditions of the diversion program shall not be subject to further disciplinaryaction for their chemical dependency problems by the board of nursing. [L 1993,c 106, pt of §1]