Caring Praxis: Responding to Persons Experiencing Opioid Use Disorder

Abstract

This article ascertains the features of Roach’s Caring Theory in a published educational approach to prepare Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) students to care for persons with opioid use disorder and substance use disorder. The intervention documented a positive change in the attitudes of DNP students after a 13-week didactic and experiential program. However, the research design was not grounded in a nursing theory. This secondary study reanalyzed the intervention through the lens of Simone Roach’s Caring model. The aim is to make caring attributes visible in the teaching and learning of caregiving for this population. Roach’s six Cs of compassion, competence, confidence, conscience, commitment, and comportment are illustrated.