Addictions Nurse Career

Nursing Associations by State

Nursing Associations by Specialties

Addictions Nurse

About This Nursing Job Role

Job Title

Addiction Nurse

Job Description

An addiction nurse assesses and monitors the client's physical and psychological withdrawal from mood-altering chemicals and administers medications as prescribed with the goal of ensuring the client detoxifies safely.

Addiction nurses also offer emotional support and alternate coping strategies; boundary-setting for and with client; and one-to-one counseling and advocating for the client or client's family.

Job Qualifications

Most addictions nurses are trained on the job.  RNs and LPNs go into the field. Addiction nurses work in out-patient treatment centers, hospital settings or psych institutions that provide an alcohol and drug treatment program. 

An addictions nurse needs to have good listening and assessment skills, have good communication skills for one to one interventions, ability to educate both on a one to one level and in a group setting (educational lectures). It is also paramount to provide a healing environment, not one of moral judgment, when dealing with the addicted individual.

Certifications

CARN: Certified Addictions Registered Nurse

CARN-AP: Certified Addictions Registered Nurse - Advanced Practice

Associations

International Nurses Society On Addictions (IntNSA): The International Nurses Society on Addictions (IntNSA) is a professional specialty organization founded in 1975 for nurses committed to the prevention, intervention, treatment, and management of addictive disorders including alcohol and other drug dependencies, nicotine dependencies, eating disorders, dual and multiple diagnosis, and process addictions such as gambling.

Nursing Council on Alcohol (NCA): The Nursing Council on Alcohol is dedicated to developing knowledge and awareness of alcohol related problems.

Association of Nurses in Substance Abuse: The Association of Nurses in Substance Abuse was formed in 1983 as an interest group for nurses working in drug and alcohol services.

Drug and Alcohol Nurses of Australasia:  Drug and Alcohol Nurses of Australasia is the peak nursing organisation in Australasia providing leadership to nurses and midwives with a professional interest in Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug (ATOD) issues.

Addictions Nurse Links

National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD): Provides education, information, help, and hope to the public. It advocates prevention, intervention, and treatment through a nationwide network of Affiliates.

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism: Supports and promotes the best science on alcohol and health by: Increasing the understanding of normal and abnormal biological functions and behavior relating to alcohol use and improving the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of alcohol use disorders.

Job Search

Nursing and Healthcare Jobs: Find nursing jobs across all 50 states. Click on Nursing Category at bottom of page.
Free Sample RN Resumes also available.

Leading Books

Addictions Nursing Books: Listing of top rated books available in the filed of addiction nursing.

Official Publication

Journal of Addictions Nursing: official journal of the International Nurses Society on Addictions (IntNSA). A peer reviewed quarterly international journal publishing original articles on current research, issues, practices and innovations as they relate to the field of addictions.

Degree Programs

If you would like to advance your nursing career, accredited online degree programs available. RN to MSN,  RN to BSN or LPN to BSN degree.  College network provides all types of nursing degrees via an accredited online curriculum.

More Information

To read more about the role of an addictions nurse, job opportunities and related sites, visit the listed associations and addictions nurse links listed above.