Signs and Symptoms of the Alcoholic Nurse

1. More irritable with patients and colleagues; withdrawn; mood swings.

2. Isolated, wants to work night shifts, lunches alone, avoids informal staff get-togethers.

3. Elaborate excuses for behavior such as being late for work.

4. Blackouts; complete memory loss for events, conversations, phone calls to colleagues; euphoric recall of events on the floor.

5. Job shrinkage; does minimal work necessary.

6. Difficulty meeting schedules and deadlines.

7. Illogical or sloppy clothing.

8. Increasingly absent from duty with inadequate explanations: long lunch hours, sick leave after days off.

9. Calls in to request compensatory time at the beginning of the shift.

Source: Ohio Board of Nursing, Compliance Unit, Columbus.