Athens Addiction Recovery Center, L.L.C. is proud to announce the designation of Jerry Veal, MS, APRN as a member in good standing of the International Nurses Society on Addictions (IntNSA). As a result of meeting the educational and practice requirements for certification, Mr. Veal may now use the professional designation of Certified Addictions Registered Nurse or CARN. IntNSA is a professional specialty organization founded in 1975 for registered nurses committed to the prevention, intervention, treatment, and management of addictive disorders, including alcohol and other drug dependencies, nicotine dependencies, eating disorders, dual and multiple diagnosis, and process addictions such as gambling.
The mission of IntNSA is to advance excellence in nursing care for the prevention and treatment of addictions for diverse populations across all practice settings through advocacy, collaboration, education, research and policy development. IntNSA’s goal is to help nurses provide comprehensive, highquality nursing care for addicted patients and their families. The members of IntNSA firmly believe that all nurses, regardless of their specialty or practice setting, can play a role in the promotion of healthy lifestyles and the early identification of eople at greater risk for developing problems associated with the abuse of addictive substances.
IntNSA’s membership has an even larger vision for the nurses who hold the CARN esignation. IntNSA members have the specialized skills, education, training, and experience to be global leaders in addictions nursing. Addictions Nursing is the nursing specialty for nurses committed to the prevention, intervention, treatment, and management of addictive disorders. Certification with the CARN designation is based on the nurses’ ability to practice within the context of the Addictions Nursing Scope and Standards of Practice, ANA Code of Ethics, and the Addictions Nurses (IntNSA’s) Core Curriculum. Leadership and excellence in many areas of the addiction practice specialty come from the members of IntNSA, including clinicians, educators, managers, and researchers who practice in a wide variety of settings, including treatment centers, hospitals, schools, private practices, primary care, and other community agencies.
In addition to adherence to a high standard of clinical knowledge, the membership of IntNSA embraces & demonstrates the following values:
Excellence : Reinvigorating efforts to improve quality of care and quality of life for all persons impacted by substance use, abuse, and addiction.
Compassion : Recognizing the importance of helping others through caring. Instilling hope to those who feel hopeless and empowering those who are powerless.
Diversity: Affirming and accepting the uniqueness of each person – his/her idea, values, culture, and ethnicity.
Integrity : Respecting the dignity and worth of every individual grounded on the understanding that addictions, like other chronic health problems can be prevented and treated.
Registered nurses obtain CARN certification for a variety of personal and professional reasons. Certification demonstrates a personal commitment to a high standard of professional preparation, continuing specialized education, and professional accomplishment. Registered nurses who obtain certification as CARN have demonstrated expertise in knowledge, skill and practice that provides the context for Addictions Nursing. Mr. Veal has logged over 7000 hours of experience since 2014, related to his Addictions Nursing practice as a registered nurse. Mr. Veal is licensed in the state of Georgia as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) since 1999, with a specialty designation as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist.
Mr. Veal and his business partner and colleague, Karen Skinner, MEd, GCADC, III founded Athens Addiction Recovery Center, L.L.C. (AARC) in April of 2015. Mr. Veal serves as the Administrator and the Nursing Director of the firm under the medical direction of Dr. A. Patrick Brooks, a member of the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM). The firm holds a state license from the Georgia Department of Community Health and is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF).
