Competence in Caring for Patients With Opioid Addiction: A Phenomenological Approach

In 2016, more than 42,000 people in the United States lost their lives to opioid overdose and 40% of those deaths were from prescription opioids (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2017). As the opioid epidemic has continued to rise, cities such as Baltimore are facing an increasing number of opioid-related deaths each year. Healthcare facilities are seeing an increased number of admissions due to opioid complications, withdrawal, and overdose. This presents an urgent need for nurses and nursing students to be able to care for those addicted to opioids in a caring and compassionate way.

The aim of this study was to gain insight on the phenomena of caring for those facing opioid addiction in an acute care setting. The study was conducted using a phenomenological and qualitative comprehensive interview method. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with two neonatal intensive care unit nurses, four hospitalized patients struggling with addiction, four nursing students, and a member of the Screening Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) team. Exploring the phenomenon of being cared for and providing care to was theoretically influenced by the works of Jean Watson, Milton Mayeroff, and Dr. David Moller. Themes of being treated differently, not regarded as a person, lack of respect, and vulnerability emerged through the data analysis. New understandings on how healthcare providers, including nursing students, gain competence in caring for persons with addiction. Based on the findings, it is evident that nurse educators have an opportunity to influence the experience of caring for this vulnerable population. Self-reflection, critical conversations, role-play, and simulation are all evidenced based activities that can be incorporated into nursing programs to enhance both the student and patient experiences. Additionally, acute care facilities should provide novice nurses with training emphasizing the delivery of compassionate and empathetic care for patients with addiction.