When Angels Fall

Author Mark Mastroianni, RN, reveals, through his own problems with substance abuse, how pervasive the problem is throughout the nursing profession. He offers advice on helping nurses recover from their addictions, while giving employers many reasons to help them through their problems and keep them gainfully employed caring for the patients who need them most.

Author Mark Mastroianni, a registered nurse and thirty-year veteran of the nursing profession, uses his own story and well-documented facts to explore the depth of substance abuse among nurses. His soul-searching story lets other nurses know they are not alone. Mark's own pain and hard-won insights can help other nurses overcome their addictions and give hospitals, doctors and other healthcare employers plenty of reasons to help them through their problems and keep skilled nurses on the job caring for the patients who need them most.

Mark has been in healthcare since 1976. He has worked in numerous settings, including owning and operating a licensed homecare and staffing agency for many years. He was a reimbursement consultant for nursing homes throughout New York State, publishing several educational manuals and conducting seminars for nursing administrators and their staffs on Medicaid reimbursement. He currently resides in upstate New York with his partner, Maria, her son and their dog, Monk, while working as a staff RN on a pediatric long-term ventilator unit. While working very hard on his own personal recovery, Mark is active and volunteers his time presenting his journey to nursing students and orientation groups in hopes of reaching out to anyone experiencing a substance-abuse problem, as well as creating an awareness of this ever growing problem for nurses, employers and those we serve. He is available to speak with all groups about the problem of substance abuse in the nursing profession.