Addiction Nursing Career Guide

A substance abuse nurse or addiction nurse is a nursing professional who provides care for patients who are struggling with addiction to alcohol, drugs, or other substances.

The rewards of this career path include the satisfaction of the positive ripple effect of someone’s recovery from addiction, which can include benefits to patients’ families, loved ones, and communities. With over 91,000 Americans dying of a drug overdose in 2020, and the number of naloxone prescriptions doubling between 2017 and 2018, nurses skilled in this specialty are needed to provide education, treatment, and support.

With an average annual salary of $86,000 according to Payscale as of May 2022, addiction nurses can earn a good living while playing a crucial part in the national battle against addiction.

An addiction nurse serves patients who are struggling with substance use disorders. They may work in various settings with patients across the lifespan.

Substance use disorder nurses perform initial assessments and evaluate and monitor patient progress. They also maintain accurate documentation and provide support for the emotional, psychological, and physical symptoms that are part of recovery.

An addiction nurse also looks for signs of relapse and may administer medications based on a physician’s or nurse practitioner’ orders.

The substance use disorder nurse offers intensive patient education. They may also educate family members and loved ones so that they can also understand the disease process and support the patient. Connecting patients with referrals and resources is important to the ongoing care of a patient attempting to recover from addiction. The nurse also collaborates with other providers, including mental health and addiction professionals, and may be responsible for organizing and/or leading patient and family support groups.

Addiction nurses may have a registered nurse (RN) license with either an associate degree or bachelor’s in nursing. They might also work as an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN). As an APRN, they can use their broad nursing knowledge and specialized knowledge related to substance misuse/addiction and behavioral health.

Addiction nurses can serve patients in many settings. They may work in a community health center, inpatient or outpatient substance use treatment center, or mental health clinic. Private practice or an inpatient psychiatric unit are also options.

In outpatient settings, patients report for regular assessment, education, support, and administration or prescribing of medications. Inpatient settings include support groups/group therapy, patient education and support, medication administration, and collaboration with a multidisciplinary team.

Working as a substance use disorder nurse can be a satisfying career path, but working with patients with addiction also presents challenges.

To become an addiction nurse, the nurse must first have a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) or an associate degree in nursing (ADN) and a valid RN license. Employers are likely to require that applicants for an addiction nurse position have work experience in mental health. Excellent communication skills, a caring personality, empathy, and emotional intelligence are an absolute must since patient education and supportive counseling are important in addiction work.

The addiction nurse must also be prepared to have firm boundaries with patients to avoid becoming overly emotionally involved or being taken advantage of by patients who have the potential to be manipulative. Computer skills are helpful since electronic medical records are used for documentation in most healthcare facilities.

According to Payscale in May 2022, a certified addiction registered nurse earns an average salary of $86,000 per year or $36.63 per hour. In comparison, Payscale reports that the average registered nurse earns a salary of $68,240 or $31.04 per hour, and an emergency room nurse earns an average salary of $73,000 or $32.56 per hour.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects job growth for nurses overall to be 9% between 2020 and 2030, which is as fast as the nationwide average for all careers.

Addiction nurses can earn a competitive salary. Factors that may increase marketability and earning include certification, years of experience in mental health and substance misuse, and demonstrated expert knowledge and skill.

Addiction nurses do not need to be certified. In fact, to apply for certification, a nurse must first have 2,000 hours of experience in addiction and substance use disorder nursing.

Considering the ongoing opioid crisis in the United States (91,700 Americans dying of a drug overdose in 2020 and the number of naloxone prescriptions doubling between 2017 and 2018), nurses specializing in addiction and substance use disorders will likely stay in high demand.

A nurse practitioner interested in the treatment of addiction can seek a position in a facility where on-the-job training is available. Previous experience in mental health nursing can be helpful.

If a nurse practitioner would like to become a certified advanced practice addiction nurse, they must have:

• A valid license as an RN and APRN
• A minimum of a master’s degree in nursing
• Forty-five hours of continuing education related to addiction
• At least 500 supervised hours of clinical practice related to addiction
• At least 1,500 hours of experience in addiction nursing as a nurse practitioner within the three years prior to application

Only APRNs can prescribe medication with either full-practice authority or limited authority depending on the state in which they practice.

Page last reviewed May 23, 2022