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- Getting Peer Assistance Help for Yourself and Others
Getting Peer Assistance Help for Yourself and Others
If Life threatening/potential immediate risk for harm to self or others:
- Call 911 or go to nearest emergency room or treatment center
- Call Suicide Hotline 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Veterans, extension 1
If drugs or alcohol related:
Signs and behaviors to identify impairment and/or drug diversion
Before any confrontation, see Intervention Essentials and contact a resource for help:
AANA Peer Assistance Helpline* 800-654-5167
- Addiction treatment
- Treatment recommendations specific for anesthesia professionals
- Centers with experience treating healthcare professionals
- In the workplace:
- Follow workplace policies
- Contact Employee Assistance Program (EAP) representative; human resources can provide information on EAP availability
- Substance Use Disorder Workplace
- Post Treatment Resources
- Ongoing peer support from Anesthetists in Recovery (AIR)
- Re-Entry to Work Recommendations and Resources
If help is needed not related to alcohol or drug issue, some options include:
- See Wellness in the Workplace for additional resources regarding:
- Adverse events/critical incidents
- Bullying/disruptive behavior
- Career transitions
- Fatigue/sleep
- Stress management
- Emotional and Mental Well-Being and Physical Well-Being
- Practice questions, such as scope, standards, position statements, facility policy development, contact the AANA Professional Practice Division practice@aana.com or 847-655-8870.
Resources to help create a substance use disorder policy including a planned intervention process can be found at Substance Use Disorder Workplace Resources.
See also the Peer Assistance FAQs.
AANA Peer Support*
AANA Peer Assistance is intended to provide resources and act as an information center for the purpose of providing helpful peer support to CRNAs in need of assistance for chemical dependency/substance use disorder(SUD). Although the program is administered by trained volunteers, it is not a professional treatment or counseling program. No person associated with the helpline, including any AANA staff or volunteers, is authorized to make a medical diagnosis, provide professional therapy, treatment or counseling, or provide legal or other professional advice of any kind. Please consult your personal medical provider or legal counsel for all such services. In addition, with the limited exception of anonymous demographic data, which is maintained for reporting purposes only, all information provided by a person contacting the helpline will be kept confidential to the extent required by applicable laws. However, please note that all AANA staff and volunteers are required to comply fully with all applicable state laws regarding mandated reporting.
