On June 12, 2014 Susanne Fogger, DNP, PMHNP-BC, associate professor in the UAB School of Nursing represented the school at the first annual conference of the National Consortium of Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SRBIRT) in Nursing. SRBIRT is a public health approach to the delivery of early intervention and treatment services for people with substance use disorders and those at risk of developing these disorders.Approximately 30 representatives from 24 universities across the country, along with various consultants from national agencies, convened to discuss the importance of integrating SBIRT into nursing education fundamentals.
Fogger is confident that this training initiative will support increased awareness of alcohol use disorders and give nursing students the tools they need to assess and treat their patients appropriately.
"SBIRT will provide nurses a foundation to understand how they can best guide their patients to optimum health. This training will enable nurses to see the full picture," she said.
UAB is one of eight institutions working as part of the Southeastern Consortium for Substance Abuse Training – Advanced Practice Registered Nurses. As a result, the SBIRT curriculum has been added to existing curriculum and students are trained to conduct brief interventions at clinical sites. The three-year grant, funded by Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), was awarded September 1, 2013 for a period of three years.
