The educational and liaison roles of drug and alcohol nurses: A potential resource?

Abstract

The difficulties encountered by nurses in caring for patients with drug and alcohol related problems have been consistently acknowledged in the literature. Negative attitudes towards these patients, and inadequate knowledge and skills to adequately care for them, are generally considered as the source of the problem. Despite this acknowledgement, drug and alcohol education continues to occupy a very small presence within nursing curricula. In-service education has been demonstrated to effect a more positive perspective towards patients with drug and alcohol problems, yet there is no evidence to suggest the situation is improving. This paper discusses the potential role of the drug and alcohol liaison nurse and addresses the paucity of literature referring to such a role. The results of a qualitative study by the authors revealed that specialized drug and alcohol nurses consider themselves suitably placed to fulfil this function. Although the process at this stage is small-scale and informal, the findings suggest that drug and alcohol nurses are capable of fulfilling an educative and liaison role. In doing this they can facilitate the development of greater confidence and more positive attitudes amongst general nurses towards this aspect of nursing care.