Nursing Care
Nursing care is somewhat limited to supporting
and monitoring. Very few nurses are substance abuse
specialists and therefore will not create the treatment
plan or prescribe medications. This does not negate
the importance of nursing care. Patients and family/
significant others need much support. They come to you
broken due to past behaviors. Trust in one another is
sometimes problematic. In addition the medications do
not 100% cure the cravings as compared to an antibiotic
curing an infection. The treatment of AUD requires the
patient to change lifestyles; sometimes so difficult to do.
Nurses, especially psychiatric/mental health are front
line in leading groups. Constant assessment must be used
to guide the discussions and personal growth of patients.
Nurses are essential to help the patient’s support system
understand this chronic disease process as treatment
plans may be revised to accommodate the patient’s
changing needs.