What is working in addictions nursing like?

allnurses Guide · Nov 27, 2018

It is great you have this goal. You are thinking really far ahead and that is good. Recognize that your schooling is going to teach you therapeutic communication skills, de-escalation skills, assessment skills that will help you identify those at risk both for addiction as well as mental health, which frequently cross over one another. Focus your goals right now on making excellent grades in your core classes so that you are a prime candidate for whatever kind of schooling you go on to do. Good luck!

kayleeann514 · Nov 28, 2018

Thank you! I am focusing- a lot- on my classes. I actually am taking chemistry and algebra purposely to prepare for college. I am just nervous that I won't be able to be a support for people, but that is good they teach it- I'm actually to also take a year-long opiate treatment certification course to further my education in the field, so hopefully that helps as well. :)

Oldmahubbard · Dec 1, 2018

Addiction is a life shattering disease that can happen to anyone. That being said, it takes a certain kind of person to work in the field. Your coursework should cover dealing with the difficulties inherent in this population, and even better, you might have some good mentors on the job. Seeing a situation dealt with appropriately first hand is worth more than a week of studying it.

All that being said, a nursing degree will give you many more options than Addictions Counselor. In case you decide after 5 or 10 years that you are tired of it:)

kayleeann514 · Dec 2, 2018

Addiction is a life shattering disease that can happen to anyone. That being said, it takes a certain kind of person to work in the field. Your coursework should cover dealing with the difficulties inherent in this population, and even better, you might have some good mentors on the job. Seeing a situation dealt with appropriately first hand is worth more than a week of studying it.
All that being said, a nursing degree will give you many more options than Addictions Counselor. In case you decide after 5 or 10 years that you are tired of it:)

Yeah, it's nondiscriminatory- when you say it takes a certain type of person, what qualities should said person have to be able to do this job? And it should- I mean, aside from my actual nursing degree, if i am taking a class that specifically teaches about opiate addiction treatment, I should be able to learn a lot from it. :)

That's one other reason I would like to pursue nursing- there are many different options, and if i "burn out" (I hope I dont, obviously), I can continue in the same field

allnurses Guide · Dec 8, 2018

Yeah, it's nondiscriminatory- when you say it takes a certain type of person, what qualities should said person have to be able to do this job? And it should- I mean, aside from my actual nursing degree, if i am taking a class that specifically teaches about opiate addiction treatment, I should be able to learn a lot from it. :)
That's one other reason I would like to pursue nursing- there are many different options, and if i "burn out" (I hope I dont, obviously), I can continue in the same field

I am a recovering alcoholic and a nurse that has spent 17 years in the mental health field. The qualities you need are compassion, patience and a very big BS detector. Addicts are not just people with a drug or alcohol problem. They are often very sick people. Their addiction is often their treatment of choice for a variety of physical and mental health problems. They will challange you in ways you can't imagine but the rewards can be great as well. Still many addicts go round and round and never find true long term sobriety which I sometimes find heart breaking. These days I work with teens in crises and hopefully catch the addiction before it is to fully entrenched.

PS pick up a copy of the big book of alcoholics anonymouse and read the first 186 pages then spend some time with the true stories in the second half of the book.

Hppy

allnurses Guide · Dec 8, 2018

Thank you! I am focusing- a lot- on my classes. I actually am taking chemistry and algebra purposely to prepare for college. I am just nervous that I won't be able to be a support for people, but that is good they teach it- I'm actually to also take a year-long opiate treatment certification course to further my education in the field, so hopefully that helps as well. :)

You will find that the classes you take in nursing school will not teach you much about addiction, it's treatment and long term sobriety. There are a surprising number of really mean nurses in the recovery field and I'm not sure why.

Hppy

GBC_Student, BSN, RN · Dec 19, 2018

It's a tough job. I know all nursing jobs are tough but addictions is a special kind of tough. You won't often go home psychically exhausted, but emotionally exhausted is something you'll need to learn to cope with. Addicts are very manipulative and can really test your patience. They're very sick people but just taking a quick look at them you usually can't tell that.

If you want to work with addicts you need to learn how to spot drug seeking behavior, work with individuals who are extremely disregulated , and keep your cool. You have to be firm and compassionate. It's not a job for everyone. Working with someone with borderline personality disorder who is coming off crystal methisnt something they teach you in school. But it's also a rewarding experience, when I see a patient who a year earlier was lying to staff to get extra valium and is now chairing an AA or smart recovery meeting and has a job and an apartment and a life it's really life affirming. On the flip side when I hear about yet another patient who has fatally overdosed it can be very sad.

The only way to see if you like it is to try it. Unfortunately with the opioid epidemic it's a growth industry.