The Role of Nurses in the Opioid Crisis
The abuse of opium and its misuse as a pain reliever has increased in the last several years. Over sixty percent of drug-abuse deaths involve an opiate drug (Naegle et al., 2017). Nurses have a critical role to play in addressing the crisis. They can implement strategies to prevent opioid abuse, educate patients and their family members, and monitor the progress and responses of patients.
One prevention strategy that nurses can implement involves creating an analgesic administration program. Nurses in the program should ensure that only patients that fail to respond to other pain relievers would get opiate drugs. Also, the patients should receive short-term medication, after which the nurses review their progress. Patients in the program cannot acquire more drugs before their next course is due, or if the nurse of doctor discontinues the treatment.
Nurses can also embrace an education strategy. The plan would require informing the patients and their families about the risks of opioids. Also, if the use of opiate drugs is necessary, they should suggest a short-term prescription, since it poses a minimal threat of addiction (Nurse Plus Academy, 2020). However, for long-term usage, nurses should educate them on the signs of addiction they could observe, and how to respond appropriately.
Finally, a monitoring strategy would be critical in avoiding dependence for patients that use opiate drugs. For instance, a pain assessment and documentation tool would facilitate accurate recording of the patient’s pain levels, their social and emotional stability, and any side effects that the medication may cause. From the information the nurses acquire, they can predict potential behavior in case patients develop drug dependence.
The role of nurses in the opioid crisis is critical. The strategies they develop are essential to curbing the epidemic. By working alongside other medical professionals, they can prevent new addictions by controlling access to opiates, monitoring the patients, and educating them on the responsible use of opiate drugs.
References
Naegle, M., Mitchell, A. M., Flinter, M., Dunphy, L., Vanhook, P., and Delaney, K. R. (2017). Nursing Outlook, 65 (4), 477-479.
Nurse Plus Academy. (2020). Tackling the Truth about Opioid Addiction: 5 Key Tips to Address Patient Fears. Retrieved from https://nurse.plus/become-a-nurse/tips-to-address-patient-fears-about-opioid-addiction/