This is a descriptive study about the formation of nurses regarding to the drug phenomenon. It was conducted with last periods students of Nursing Schools from five Federal Educational Institutions in southern Brazil. It presents and discusses Nursing students´ attitudes and beliefs about care, when facing the drug phenomenon. The data collection happened from October 2003 to February 2004, with intentional sample constituted of 105 students. An instrument was applied to them, with a scale asking about nurses´ attitudes and beliefs regarding to alcoholism and drugs. The study showed that the students understand knowledge about the drug phenomenon as fundamental to the profession, and they incorporate the care of people involved with psychoactive substances, as nurses´role. The study also showed clearly a disarticulation between theory and practice, course´s contents centered on medical and moral models, and interpersonal communication difficulties.
alcoholism; substance abuse detection; education nursing; students, nursing; health knowledge, attitudes, practice
