Abstract
Nurses working in opioid treatment programs (OTPs) and office-based community settings have essential roles in the assessment, screening, treatment monitoring and counseling of patients receiving buprenorphine for the treatment of opioid addiction. However, challenges to implementing buprenorphine treatment with patients addicted to opioids or other drugs, including medication diversion and confidentiality issues, require nurses to improve their professional skills and prepare themselves for the implementation of best practices in addiction settings. Recent studies have found that inconsistency between science and practice is often attributed to inadequate staff education and training. Nurses working in addiction settings have reported, on an ongoing basis, attending very few clinical trainings in the area of substance abuse. This guide highlights the addiction management skills of nurses and promotes a mutually respectful team environment in which nurses and physicians collaboratively work to improve the care provided to opioid addicted individuals, including assessment, induction, stabilization, maintenance, monitoring, addiction counseling and relapse prevention services. It also serves as a resource to help nurses working with community/office based physicians to improve treatment outcomes for individuals receiving office-based treatment for opioid addiction.