“Looks Can be Deceiving”: An Innovative Way to Teach Nursing Students about Substance Use Disorder

UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Jacqueline K. Debrew, Clinical Associate Professor (Creator)
Institution
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/

Abstract: Information about substance use disorders (SUDs) is commonly taught in pre-licensure nursingprograms. Nurses, regardless of their work settings, undoubtedly will encounter clients who deal with SUDs, and therefore it is imperative that nurse educators prepare their students for the care of these clients. But what if the person experiencing SUDs is not a client, but a colleague? This manuscript describes an innovative approach to teaching about SUDs to a class of Bachelor of Science in Nursing students that utilized a guest speaker who was a nurse in recovery from addiction. Student reflections showed that the learning activity increased their knowledge of addiction, as well as helping them to examine their own biases about people with addiction. This teaching strategy could be replicated by other nurse educators to ensure that future nurses are prepared to work alongside a colleague experiencing SUDs.

Additional Information

Publication
DeBrew, J. (2023). “Looks can be deceiving: an innovative way to teach nursing students about substance use disorder. Creative Nursing, 29(1);141-156. doi:10.1177/107845352202900102
Language: English
Date: 2023
Keywords
Substance Use Disorder, Pre-Licensure Education, Impaired Nurses, Teaching and Learning

Email this document to