Screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment training for family nurse practitioner students

Alcohol and substance-related disorders affect individuals throughout the global community. It is important that nurse practitioners understand the use of screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment (SBIRT) in recognizing these disorders before development of chronic disease conditions. The SBIRT curriculum was adapted and integrated in a family nurse practitioner program. After completion of the curriculum in the didactic setting, students used what they learned in a clinical setting. Following the experience, students reflected on the encounters leading to increased awareness of personal feelings. Students were able to use their training in patient encounters and identified a variety of thoughts and feelings about working with patients who screened positive for overuse of alcohol or substances. The SBIRT is an important component of the education of nurse practitioners. It is through timely screening and intervention that conditions can be addressed early in substance use disorder. It is important for students to be aware of personal thoughts and feelings when working with this population.