By Erica Techo
University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing Professor Susanne Fogger, DNP, CRNP, CARN-AP, PMHNP-BC, FAANP, has co-edited an important resource for addictions and psychiatric mental health nursing.
The third edition of American Nurse’s Association’s “Addictions Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice,” is a foundational volume that articulates the essentials of addictions nursing and provides a resource for nurses. It covers what addictions nursing is as well as provides a framework for actions and behaviors of registered addictions nurses. While it is not intended to replace a textbook, Fogger said this resource can provide guidance for registered nurses working with patients and families with addictions.
“Addictions nursing is not limited to those with psychiatric illness or substance use disorders, so any nurse can benefit from this resource,” Fogger said. “Nurses can reference this for guidance on individuals with substance use or misuse, addictive illness and co-occurring psychiatric issues.”
The third edition also provides timely updates to previous editions, including notes on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This edition considers changes in the United States since the last publication in 2012, such as the effect of COVID, the increase in opioid use disorders and effects of social determinants of health,” Fogger said. “This updated resource is an important part of providing quality care. In the past 10 years, the role of nurse practitioners has progressed, achieving independent practice in almost half of the United States. Federal and state legislative changes have expanded the scope of NPs as it relates to addiction treatment. For example, in 2012, NPs could not prescribe buprenorphine, a medication to treat opioid use disorder. Now nurses and nurse practitioners play a big role in managing treatment of opioid use disorder, the updated Scope and Standards guides quality treatment.”
The third edition of the American Nurses Association’s “Addictions Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice” is available through the American Nurses Association and in online bookstores.
