How to Become a Substance Abuse Nurse

Substance abuse nurses play a large role throughout the addiction recovery process. Learn more about the duties, education and experience required to become one.

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By The Recovery Village

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Editor Melissa Carmona

As the content manager at Advanced Recovery Systems, Melissa Carmona puts years of writing and editing... read more

About our Editorial Team

Medically Reviewed By Nanci Stockwell, LCSW, MBA

A dynamic leader and award-winning business strategist, Nanci Stockwell brings years of industry experience in behavioral health care... read more

About our Editorial Team

Updated on 10/19/20

Substance Abuse & Mental Health Nurses: What They Do and How to Become One

Nurses are an essential part of addiction recovery, particularly in the early stages of a patient’s rehab stay. Substance abuse and mental health nurses are caring individuals with strong communication abilities. They also need to exhibit close attention to detail in their duties. Nurses work directly with clients as well as their families, often providing valuable information about substance use and its dangers.

At a minimum, nurses need a two-year degree and several years of experience to specialize in addiction. Fortunately, this means people interested in nursing do not have to spend a decade or longer acquiring master’s degrees and clinical experience to begin helping people with addiction. This relatively quick path is especially beneficial in addressing the constant demand for addiction specialists as the United States works to close the treatment gap present in many communities. In 2018, only 3.7 million Americans received addiction treatment out of the 21.2 million who needed it.

In the following sections, you will learn about the duties of a substance abuse nurse, how to become one, the different specialties available and the outlook for this career path.

What Do Substance Abuse Nurses Do?

Substance abuse nurses typically work in mental health facilities, psychiatric wards and inpatient or outpatient rehab clinics. Common duties include:

Giving assessments and screenings to incoming patients
Monitoring health during a patient’s stay
Helping create treatment plans
Administering medication and providing pain management
Maintaining medical records and charts
Informing patients, family members and loved ones about the risks of substance use and options for treatment
Providing emotional support

There are other related roles that nurses can pursue, though the majority of these roles require additional education or certifications.

Types of Addiction Nurses

The most common types of nurses found in a recovery-related setting include:

Nurse Practitioners: These are advanced nurses who can prescribe medication to patients.
Nursing Assistants: Assistants provide support for patients and help doctors, nurses and other medical professionals with their duties.
Psychiatric Nurses: These professionals identify and treat mental health conditions by prescribing medication and providing therapy.
Detox Specialists: These individuals help create a detox plan for incoming patients, based on their health history and substance use habits.

How to Become a Substance Abuse Nurse

While the required level of education and certification varies widely among the different nursing specialties, there are typical requirements for becoming a substance abuse nurse.

Education and Degree Requirements

A person will need a two-year associate’s degree or a four-year bachelor’s degree in nursing. After receiving a degree, they must pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) to become a registered nurse. Some states also require a criminal background check. To specialize as a substance abuse nurse, however, they may need additional experience and certifications.

Required Certifications, Credentials and Licenses

The Certified Addictions Registered Nurse (CARN) certification indicates a nurse’s proficiency in addiction-focused nursing. Though someone may work as a substance abuse nurse without this certification, it can improve the chances of employment. Some employers may require it. A nurse can take the CARN exam after completing 2,000 hours of addiction-related nursing and 30 hours of continuing education within the previous three years.

What to Expect After Schooling and Training

After receiving a degree and passing the exam to become a registered nurse, nurses can begin working in hospitals, mental health facilities, addiction rehabilitation centers and other clinical settings. Here is what the future holds for those in nursing careers and what steps they can take to search for employment.

Occupational Demand for Addiction Nurses

The demand for registered nurses is expected to grow by 12% by 2028. Nurses earned a median salary of $71,730 per year in 2018. There is a growing need for nurses in drug and alcohol rehab facilities as awareness of recovery resources and services continues to rise throughout the United States.

How to Find a Job

Online job boards, such as the one found at RegisteredNursing.org, are a great place to find open nursing positions. Candidates can also go straight to the source by searching for open jobs at hospitals, rehab facilities and mental health clinics. The CARN certification can help candidates for substance abuse nursing positions demonstrate their specialization in addiction recovery.

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Available Nursing Positions at The Recovery Village

The Recovery Village is an addiction recovery organization with accredited locations across the United States. We are always looking for nurses and other medical experts to join our team, locally at our facilities or nationally through our telehealth platform. View the most current available positions at our job portal website.

FAQs about Substance Abuse Nurses

What is the typical psychiatric nurse practitioner salary?

Nurse practitioners made a median yearly salary of $113,930 in 2018.

How long does it take to become a nurse?

A person can become a nurse by attaining a two-year associate’s degree, but some employers prefer a four-year bachelor’s degree in nursing.

Do nurses need continuing education courses or credits?

Some states do require nurses to take continuing education courses in order to renew their license. Check your state board for what requirements apply to you, and if needed, that your course is accredited by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). The Recovery Village offers continuing education courses online and in person. Substance abuse nurses may also need to take specific courses to qualify for the CARN certification.

Are there telehealth or telemedicine jobs for nurses?

There are few telehealth opportunities for nurses, as their duties must typically be performed in person.

Sources

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. “2018 NSDUH Annual National Report.” August 20, 2019. Accessed April 11, 2020.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Registered Nurses.” February 21, 2020. Accessed April 11, 2020.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives, and Nurse Practitioners.” February 18, 2020. Accessed April 11, 2020.

How to Become a Substance Abuse Nurse

Substance Abuse & Mental Health Nurses: What They Do and How to Become One