Question

Could someone please offer some insight on your company's policy? My employer do not have this type of policy in place

Assignment:

Research the withdrawal or detoxification management policy or procedures at their place of employment. If one is not available, ask students to review the policy of a local health-care setting of their choice. What nursing interventions are present in this policy or procedure? Summarize your findings

Answer 1

Withdrawal and detoxification management policy and procedures of a local health care setting:

Withdrawal and Detoxification :

Withdrawal is a type of Metabolic shock the body undergoes when a substance , usually an alcoholic beverage or a toxin such as heroin to which a patient is addicted is withheld . Withdrawal symptoms are any of a wide range of symptoms associated with the discontinuance of a drug by a person who has become addicted to it.

Detoxification : It is the process or removing toxins from drugs. The main purpose of detoxification is the management of withdrawal symptoms.  

Institutional policy:

* Each person is unique, so the experience with detox is different for everyone. The time period of detoxification and the management of withdrawal symptoms are depend on number of factors :

* The type of substance, that the person addicted to

* Method of abuse: injection, smoking or swallowing etc

* The severity and duration of addiction

* The dose, the patient used to take

* Medical condition, family history and associated mental health problems.  

Warning: Detoxification at home without proper precautions can be deadly.

The major 3 steps in Detoxification process:

* Evaluation of the condition of the patient :

Do a comprehensive review on medical, drug and psychiatric histories of the patient. Blood test have to conduct to reveal the amount of drug in there blood. Evaluate the present physical and mental fitness of the patient.  

* Stabilization of the patient: by providing medication for addiction treatment to reduce the complications can be helpful for the patient to stabilise his condition. Along with medical therapy , psychological therapy also helps to stabilise the patient and that may prevent patient from harming himself due to withdrawal symptoms.

* Detoxification treatment: Prepare the patient psychologically to be ready for the treatment. Doctors have to make the patient to be familiarise with the treatment.  

Side effects of Detoxification:

Medical detoxification is the safe way to get detoxified. Other detoxification methods are dangerous. Medical detoxification may accompany with certain minor side effects such as discomfort, poor sleep, mood swings , nausea , insomnia , anxiety etc.

Nursing Interventions During withdrawal and detoxification:

* Obtain a complete history, regarding medical , drug and psychiatric history of patient.

* Monitor vital signs frequently according to institutional policy.

* Provide a comfortable and safe environment for the detoxification of patient; remove sharp objects and chemical solutions like cleaning solutions, hand wash, sanitizers etc.

* Encourage  the patient for open communication and ventilate the feelings.

* Provide a calm and quite environment for the patient to ensure adequate rest and sleep.  

* Assist or obtain blood samples for drug evaluation.

* Encourage the patient to adapt relaxation techniques such as Meditation, deep breathing exercises etc .

* Instruct the patient to keep the adherence with the medications to prevent complications.  

* Instruct the patient to avoid bad companies and old friends , who may makes him to abuse the drugs again.

* Encourage the client to maintain abstinence from drug.

* Connect him with the support groups. Example: Alcoholics Anonymous.