The new VNHP Director, Heather Pickard, addressed the 2006 ANF Annual Delegates Conference excited about the program's potential to help nurses, with six clients already starting in August prior to any promotion.
The VNHP will assess clients and co-ordinate the required health services, review treatment, provide ongoing support, relapse prevention and monitoring strategies and develop a re-entry to work plan if appropriate.
"I've been working in drug and alcohol services for 12 years and one of the things I always hear is that the system is a nightmare to navigate," Ms Pickard said.
Ms Pickard said she was keen for nurses to refer themselves to the service but she is aware many nurses will also seek help as ‘assisted referrals' on the advice or assistance of a colleague, friend or family member. Others will be referred to the program via the Nurses Board of Victoria.
The VNHP will also conduct seminars at workplaces outlining the service and how to identify if you or a colleague has a substance abuse problem.
Source: On The Record, ANF (Victorian Branch) newsletter, September 2006.
The VNHP was an ANF (Victorian Branch) and Nurses Board of Victoria initiative supported and funded by nurses' registration through the NBV. The health program runs independently of both ANF and NBV.
If you think you have a problem, or a nurse or a student nurse you care about is at risk, call the Victorian Nurses Health Program, 8.30am to 5pm on 9415 7551.
For out of hours phone support relating to drug and alcohol issues, the program recommends that nurses call Directline on 1800 888 236.
