Current morale issues that impede the caregiving process of substance abuse/addictions nurses

A telephone survey was conducted with 25 nurse managers of substance abuse/addictions programs in a metropolitan area to ascertain what morale issues impede the caregiving processes of their nursing staff. Five issues were repeatedly identified by all 25 nurse managers. Those issues were: (a) lack of credibility and respect for the nurse in the eyes of other members of the multidisciplinary team, (b) lack of understanding of the role of nurses in the substance abuse/addictions program on an inpatient unit; (c) lack of adequate preparation for the role, (d) lack of acceptance of the nursing role as defined by nursing, and (e) the care of patients with concurrent diagnoses. This article analyzes these issues from the perspective of reasons for existence and possible solutions.