OBJECTIVE: To examine the attitudes of a sample of nursing students toward alcohol, alcoholism and the alcoholic. METHODS: An exploratory study conducted with 144 students in their final year of undergraduate nursing in two private schools in the city of Ribeirão Preto - SP. For data collection, we used the scale of attitudes towards alcohol, alcoholism and the alcoholic. RESULTS: Attitudes toward alcohol were more negative than those that have been reported in the literature. The majority of participants considered the alcoholic to blame for his health problems and preferred not to work with this type of patient. CONCLUSION: The students' attitudes to questions related to alcohol and alcoholism tended toward ambivalence and negativity, which can be attributed to lack of preparation received during their education. Despite recommendations made by specialists in the country, little has been invested in nursing education on alcohol and other drugs, especially in private schools.
Students; nursing; Attitudes; Alcohol; Alcoholism; Alcoholics
