Differences in Attitudes toward Alcoholism in Graduates of Two Schools of Nursing

Abstract

This study compared attitudes toward alcoholism of 24 nurses from a 4-yr. nursing program in a Roman Catholic college and of 29 nurses who graduated from a 4-yr. state supported university affiliated nursing program. 17 of the 24 subjects from the religious-affiliated nursing program indicated they felt “comfortable” in providing nursing care to patients with alcohol problems. Yet 17 of the 29 subjects from the non-sectarian university program indicated they did not feel “comfortable” in providing care to such patients. Subjects from the religious-affiliated program who indicated that they did not feel “comfortable” in providing care to patients with alcohol problems scored lower in the attitude scale than subjects from the university program who indicated they also did not feel “comfortable” in providing such care.