Assessing for Alcohol Use Disorders in Women: Experiences of Advanced Practice Nurses in Primary Care Settings

Alcohol use disorders (AUD) in women patients are frequently missed in primary care settings. This study explores common assessment practices by advanced practice nurses prescribers (APNPs) in one Midwestern state. Transcribed, in-depth interviews with 23 APNPs were analyzed using Heideggerian hermeneutic research methods. Two patterns emerged from an overarching idea of Becoming Aware: 1) Recognizing Alcohol in Everyday Life and 2) Attending to HER Story. The first pattern revealed ways nurses approach and think about assessing for AUD in women. The second pattern revealed practices of listening and responding to women's unique and complex stories. Findings inform education and practice by raising new questions and suggesting possibilities for education and research.