How to Become an Addictions Nurse
- 1). Review your state's guidelines for becoming an addictions nurse.
- 2). Review your mental health nursing curriculum that you obtained while in school. Concentrate on the nursing diagnosis information.
- 3). Attend conferences for addiction rehabilitation and counseling. Contact your state's Nursing Association if you are unable to find these through your employer.
- 4). Check into post-graduate nursing programs. Many certifications require a minimum of a bachelor's degree and some require up to a doctorate.
- 5). Volunteer in rehabilitation centers or clinics.
- 6). Familiarize yourself with the current trends in substance abuse by visiting sites such as the one ran by the National Association for Addiction Professionals.
- 7). Check into certification by the International Nurses Society on Addictions. The organization requires you to pass a test to become a Certified Addictions Registered Nurse (CARN).
