Preparing Nursing Students to Work With Patients With Alcohol or Drug-Related Problems.

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Addiction Treatment
• Public Health

Background:

• Stigma and inadequate training hinder early identification and care for patients with alcohol or drug (AOD)-related problems.
• Nurses are vital in addressing AOD issues but often lack motivation and sufficient training.
• Existing educational gaps impact the quality of care for individuals with AOD-related problems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe an educational intervention integrating AOD curriculum into a community/public health nursing clinical practicum.
• To evaluate the preliminary results of this educational experience.
• To enhance nursing students' attitudes, therapeutic commitment, and readiness to care for AOD-affected patients.

Main Methods:

• An educational experience was developed, integrating AOD curriculum into a community/public health nursing clinical practicum.
• Preliminary evaluation results of this intervention were collected and analyzed.
• The intervention aimed to meet course objectives and improve student preparedness.

Main Results:

• The educational intervention was successfully integrated into the nursing clinical practicum.
• Preliminary evaluation indicates potential improvements in student attitudes and commitment towards working with AOD-affected patients.
• The study provides initial data on the effectiveness of integrated AOD education.

Conclusions:

• Integrating AOD curriculum into nursing education is a feasible strategy to address training gaps.
• This educational approach shows promise in improving nurses' capacity to care for patients with AOD-related problems.
• Further research is warranted to confirm the long-term impact on nursing practice and patient outcomes.