Developing clinical expertise in the care of addicted patients in acute care settings

Patients with problems related to addiction are frequently encountered in acute care hospitals. Behavioral difficulties and other obstacles to treatment often threaten the smooth application of compassionate plans of care for these patients. The authors describe the use of an addiction nurse expert and a group of clinical resource nurses to advance the level of practice at one institution with regard to addicted patients. The work of Benner on the process of skill acquisition in nursing is used as a framework for the discussion.