JeanAnne Johnson Talbert – Substance Abuse Among Medical Patients

A patient is admitted for a leg infection. The patient reports that she was bitten repeatedly by a spider. She is now receiving IV antibiotics.

---

JeanAnne Johnson Talbert – Substance Abuse Among Medical Patients

Description:

• Pharmacology of Abused Substances
• Effective screening of patients in the hospital for substance use disorders
• Treatment and assessment of withdrawal symptoms
• Evacuations
• Medical Problems with substance use disorders

A typical med/surg nursing shift can care for six patients. Statistics show that 22% of these patients have an underlying substance misuse disorder. Are you ready to deal with withdrawal symptoms. Do you have the knowledge to evaluate for withdrawal symptoms?

A patient is currently in recovery from his knee surgery. He is experiencing 10/10 pain. It seems impossible because you have already given him 20mg IV dilaudid. You think to yourselves. “He should be apneic with that much Dilaudid!” How come this patient is requiring such high doses of opiate analgesia?

A patient is admitted for a leg infection. The patient reports that she was bitten repeatedly by a spider. She is now receiving IV antibiotics. You notice unusual vein patterns as you examine her. It almost seems like her veins are black underneath the skin. Later on in your shift she starts sweating profusely and then has diarrhea. She also begins screaming that her skin is crawling, and her joints hurt greatly. What’s the matter?

It is vital that healthcare professionals are able to address the psychological and physical needs of people who have been entrusted to their care because of the many problems associated with substance abuse. JeanAnne Johnson Talbert, DHA, and APRN-BC, FNP and PMHNP, AOCN and CARN-AP will benefit from her extensive expertise during this practice-Change one-Day event. You are guaranteed You will leave with fresh ideas, insights and new ways to tackle the challenges. “Hidden Truth” Behind the complex medical patients that you see.

OUTLINE

Hidden Case Studies Substance Use Disorders Medical Patients: What Does It Look Like?

• In pregnant patients
• In general medical patients
• For surgical patients

This Topic is so Important. This topic is challenging?

• Biostatistics
• In practice, actual relevance
• Mortality and morbidity – complications of substance abuse disorders

What does the body actually do with these substances?

• Pharmacodynamics and Pharmacokinetics principles
• Reinforcement
• Cross-cultural tolerance and tolerance-tolerance
• Physical dependence
• Conditioning
• Sensitization
• Pregnancy-Similar complications

What Substances Should We Be Talking About

• Alcohol
• Sedative/Hypnotics
• Opioids
• Stimulants
• Dissociatives
• Inhalants
• Cannabinoids
• Anabolic steroids
• Club drugs
• Nicotine

Would you like a gift? JeanAnne Johnson Talbert – Substance Abuse Among Medical Patients ?

Street Drugs & Terminology

• Interpreting patient language
• What drugs are they talking?

Neurobiology Substance Abuse: You Mean it’s Not a Choice?

• Neurobiology and anatomy the normal brain
• Substance Abuse as a brain disorder
• Environmental and genetic influences

Mental Illness Substance Abuse “Dual Diagnosis”

• Co-occurring illnesses
• The theories and traits that surround the two

Screening and Assessment Techniques

• Use effective questionnaires to screen substance abuse
• Techniques that encourage open and honest communication between the patient and doctor
• Work with the pregnant woman who is using substances
• How to recognize your own biases and avoid letting them affect your work

A Patient with an Underlying Substance Use Disorder: Withdrawal Symptoms & Emergency Treatments

• Anticipation/prevention of withdrawal symptoms
• Protocols for withdrawal
• Treatments for withdrawal symptoms
• Emergencies
• After exposure to chemicals, treatment of newborns
• Safety for patients/family/staff
• Effective pain management
• Motivational interviewing – Assessing how to refer the patient after discharge from the hospital

OBJECTIVES

1. Examine the epidemiological trends in substance abuse disorders and their impact on medical patients.
2. In order to understand the pharmacology, you must be able to differentiate between the current abuse substances.
3. Recognize today’s street drug terminology.
4. Explain the neurobiology and consequences of substance abuse.
5. Screen for substance abuse disorders.
6. Develop a treatment plan that addresses the needs of patients who have a history or substance abuse disorder. This includes managing pain.
7. Analyze the relationship between different medical complications related to substance use.
8. When working with patients suffering from substance abuse disorders, you must be aware of your biases.