Statewide Peer Assistance for Nurses (SPAN) is a confidential education, support, and advocacy program for all nurses licensed in New York State, from early substance use concerns to substance dependence. ANA-NY is proud to support SPAN’s mission to ensure every nurse has access to treatment, license protection, and ongoing recovery support.
“Every nurse deserves access to treatment, help in preserving their license and employment status, and ongoing support throughout recovery.” — SPAN
What SPAN Offers:
Confidential support & advocacy for NY nurses affected by substance use disorders
Education for nurses and employers on substance use issues in the profession
Help navigating license and employment concerns while seeking treatment
Connection to trained peer assistance staff across New York State
Feature Spotlight: The Compassion Project
A statewide call to action to break stigma and create compassionate, recovery-ready workplaces for nurses.
The Compassion Project encourages nurses to:
Create safe spaces to check in on co-workers’ well-being
Challenge stigma & use non-stigmatizing language
Actively listen and offer peer support
Promote healthy work-life balance and recovery readiness
Toolkit includes:
Reasonable Suspicion of Impairment
Overdose Response in the Workplace
Implementing a Culture of Compassion
Return to Work After Recovery
Recovery Ready Workplaces & more
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance use, or if your organization would like education about supporting nurses:
? 800-457-7261 | ✉️ SPAN@NYSNA.org