Title : Caring for the person addicted to opioids: The DNP role
Abstract:
The purpose of this oral presentation is to determine whether an educational intervention improves DNP nurses’ attitudes of caring for patients with opioid addiction. The specific aim of this study is to determine if there a difference in nurses’ attitudes towards persons with opioid addictions after an educational intervention. In 2012, an estimated 2.1 million people in the United States experienced substance use disorders related to prescription opioid analgesics and an estimated 467,000 were addicted to heroin (SAMHSA, 2012). In addition, 1 out of 5 patients with non-cancer pain or pain-related diagnoses are prescribed opioids (CDC, 2015). West Virginia leads the nation in the rate of fatal drug overdoses (WVDHHR, 2015). DNP Nurses are currently caring for persons with acute and chronic health issues and co-existing opioid addiction. As a result of this opioid epidemic, acute care agencies are experiencing an increase in persons admitted with comorbid substance dependence. With frequent hospitalizations patients require complex care for the associated comorbidities such as infections, withdrawal symptoms and/or mental illnesses. As a foundation of nursing practice, a therapeutic relationship addresses patient problems by creating a partnership between nurse and patient, using therapeutic communication and empathy. Limited research exists on DNP student attitudes about caring for persons with opioid addiction during this current opioid epidemic. An evidence-based educational intervention to define the epidemiology of opioid abuse, recognize addiction as a disease with consequences and apply screening brief intervention and referral to treatment (SBIRT) to clinical case scenarios with reflection on the experience of opioid addiction will be presented. The findings of this study will provide a better understanding of DNP nurses’ attitudes towards persons with opioid addiction to then design changes in DNP curriculums.
Audience Take Away:
• Participants will describe ways the DNP uses therapeutic relationship to care for persons addicted to opioids.
• Education on drug addiction for the DNP will be described
• Screening, brief intervention and referral for treatment training based on the therapeutic relationship will be introduced
• New information on the role of the DNP creating a therapeutic alliance will be discussed.
