Nurses' key competencies in treating patients with substance addiction: Descriptive literature review
Tuisku, Julietta (2023)
2023
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2023051210366
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2023051210366
Tiivistelmä
Substance addiction is a neuropsychiatric disease associated with a loss of control, that is strongly influenced by genetics as well as social and psychological factors. Nurses must possess certain key competencies to provide quality care for patients with substance addiction, as without these competencies the delivery of care could be jeopardized. The purpose of this study is to describe what key competencies nurses need in treating patients with substance addiction. The aim of this study was to identify which competencies are the most important to focus on in the education and training of substance addiction nurses.
For this descriptive literature review, ESBCOhost engine was used to find articles and studies, with “CINAHL with Full Text” and “Medline” as databases. Altogether 646 articles were found, from which 18 articles were chosen based on the title and abstract. With the inclusion and exclusion criteria, five articles were chosen and analyzed with the method of inductive content analysis. With the analysis, “continuous education and training”, “patient education”, and “evidence-based practices” were formed into a main theme: “Knowledge in substance addiction care”. “Motivational interviewing”, “communication skills”, “therapeutic nurse-patient relationship” and “compassion and care” were formed into a main theme: “Forming a therapeutic relationship”. Findings indicate that one key competency for substance addiction nurses is knowledge in substance addiction care, which is connected to using evidence-based practices, educating patients and is built by continuous education and training. Another key competency is forming a therapeutic relationship with patients, which comes from active listening skills, motivational interviewing, communication skills and compassion and care.
The strength of this literature review was a good quality articles connected to the research question, which was “What are the key competencies nurses need in working with patients with substance addictions?” The author of this thesis suggests more studies being made on substance addiction nursing competencies worldwide so that patients can receive the best possible care within the available resources.
For this descriptive literature review, ESBCOhost engine was used to find articles and studies, with “CINAHL with Full Text” and “Medline” as databases. Altogether 646 articles were found, from which 18 articles were chosen based on the title and abstract. With the inclusion and exclusion criteria, five articles were chosen and analyzed with the method of inductive content analysis. With the analysis, “continuous education and training”, “patient education”, and “evidence-based practices” were formed into a main theme: “Knowledge in substance addiction care”. “Motivational interviewing”, “communication skills”, “therapeutic nurse-patient relationship” and “compassion and care” were formed into a main theme: “Forming a therapeutic relationship”. Findings indicate that one key competency for substance addiction nurses is knowledge in substance addiction care, which is connected to using evidence-based practices, educating patients and is built by continuous education and training. Another key competency is forming a therapeutic relationship with patients, which comes from active listening skills, motivational interviewing, communication skills and compassion and care.
The strength of this literature review was a good quality articles connected to the research question, which was “What are the key competencies nurses need in working with patients with substance addictions?” The author of this thesis suggests more studies being made on substance addiction nursing competencies worldwide so that patients can receive the best possible care within the available resources.