Nurse practitioners in drug and alcohol: where are they?

Objective: The role of nurse practitioner encompasses advanced levels of practice with the potential to prescribe a range of medications within a recognised area of practice along with the use of appropriate ordering of pathology tests and referral practices. This paper introduces the nurse practitioner in drug and alcohol. Setting: The nurse practitioner in Drug and Alcohol has the potential to support and enhance existing medical models of patient care in a variety of settings. Primary Argument: Employment of nurse practitioners may be a way of addressing workforce issues. The advanced level of practice and resultant responsibility also requires higher levels of remuneration, which need to be accepted within an advanced practice framework. In many cases this model of care may in fact be acknowledging existing practices in areas where nursing staff are forced to undertake more advanced roles due to the shortage of appropriately trained Medical staff. Collaborative care involving nurse practitioners can lead to increased access, reduced waiting times and longer consultation times. Conclusion: Nurse practitioners in the alcohol and other drugs field have enormous potential to support other experts in collaborative care for patients with substance use disorders. This potential does not come without some additional financial costs but the potential benefits to a health service in employing a nurse practitioner skilled in the management of substance use disorders can be enormous. The full potential of nurse practitioners in drug and alcohol will not however be realised until financial arrangements for outpatient care become a reality