Exploration the Needs of Nursing Care of Drugs Addiction Service Institutions in Indonesia

BACKGROUND: Nurses as a care giver play an important role in managing addicts. The implementation of quality care needs to be supported by the availability of services and appropriate guidance to care providers. In Indonesia, what is available is a general guide for all healthcare professionals. AIM: This study is to explores nurses’ and health professionals’ views about the need of nursing care to care for drug addiction clients. METHODS: This study used qualitative descriptive study. The data collection used in depth interviews. The study involved 10 nurses and 10 health profession recruited from the three government centers of addiction services in the capital city of Indonesia. The analysis of the data using thematic analysis. RESULTS: There were four themes in this study such as gray area between nurses and other health workers in handling clients, the role of drug addiction nurses, challenges and strategies in caring for addiction clients and hopes. CONCLUSION: Nursing staff must have the knowledge, attitudes, and special skills to perform their duties. Having a mental health nurse in a drug addiction service facility should be seen as a step toward solving the Indonesian drug addiction nursing dilemma. Good guidance and training should be provided to caregivers of drug addiction services to improve their knowledge, skills, abilities, and behaviors in dealing with drug addiction.