Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment: Implementation Into an RN-BSN Curriculum

Background: The incidence of alcohol and substance misuse continues to be a problem in the workplace. Methods: A partnership between two universities and a federal agency implemented SBIRT (Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment) into a three-credit, 7-week online Community and Environmental Health Course for licensed nurses earning their Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. SBIRT is an early intervention, targeting nondependent substance users before needing specialized treatment. Findings: Over seven semesters, 119 students completed the SBIRT curriculum. We observed a significant increase in knowledge about standard drink sizes and recognizing the most reliable alcohol use questionnaire (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test [AUDIT]). Students perceived themselves as competent in assessing patient readiness to change, making the best treatment decisions, and referring patients for appropriate care. Most students found significant value of SBIRT in their current practice setting. Conclusion/Application to Practice: The SBIRT curriculum was found to be a valuable tool for nurses in screening and referring patients to care who are at risk of alcohol and drug misuse. It is important for occupational health nurses to learn the necessary skills for assessing workers for alcohol and drug misuse. The occupational health nurse is encouraged to practice their skills at every patient encounter for purposes of refining their skills. Employers are concerned about drug and alcohol misuse in the workplace and occupational health nurses are the optimal group to intervene with workers who need assistance.