title: Alcohol Misuse Among Nursing Students.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The self-reported prevalence of alcohol use among U.S. college students decreased from 90.5% in 1980 to 79.2% in 2012. National efforts exist to reduce alcohol misuse among college students in the United States, yet little research addresses substance abuse among nursing students and even less addresses alcohol misuse. Alcohol misuse in nursing students may result in patient harm.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This scoping study describes the state of the science of alcohol misuse among nursing students, guided by the research question: "What is the current state of alcohol misuse among U.S. nursing students?"
  
  
  METHODS
  Evidence was drawn from several scholarly sources. Articles were included if they addressed U.S. nursing students; alcohol misuse; substance abuse or chemical impairment; prevalence rates; and/or characteristics including nursing student behaviors, attitudes, and beliefs. Using thematic analysis, common themes were extracted, followed by hand coding those themes and using NVivo qualitative software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six studies met inclusion criteria. Three themes, eight subthemes, and several gaps in knowledge were identified. The themes include "high prevalence exists," "necessity of supportive environments," and "hopelessness without policies." Subthemes include "root cause," "vulnerable population," "scholarship and substance use," "education," "identification of risk factors," "prevention and deterrents," "safety," "ethical and legal issues," and "consequences."
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  On the basis of this analysis, several research questions were developed to explore alcohol misuse in this population. Alcohol was the most often used substance. Nursing students were unaware of a safe level of consumption and the potential negative health-related and professional effects associated with alcohol misuse.
authors.affiliation: Julie McCulloh Nair, PhD, RN, CCRE, College of Nursing, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston. Lynne S. Nemeth, PhD, RN, FAAN, College of Nursing, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston. Pamela Holtzclaw Williams, PhD, RN, College of Nursing, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock. Susan D. Newman, PhD, RN, College of Nursing, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston. Marilyn S. Sommers, PhD, RN, FAAN, School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.
authors.forename: Julie McCulloh
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Nair
authors.forename: Lynne S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Nemeth
authors.forename: Pamela Holtzclaw
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Susan D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Newman
authors.forename: Marilyn S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Sommers
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D001294:Attitude to Health; D004506:Education, Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010687:Philosophy, Nursing; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult