Introduction
Opioid use remains an epidemic in the U.S.A that affects many individuals and families across the country. A nursing care plan for opioid use must be put in place by healthcare professionals in order to help individuals and families with opioid addiction. This care plan should include assessment of the situation, diagnosis of the opioid use disorder, goals/outcomes that are aspired to be obtained, interventions used to help achieve those goals, and finally evaluations of the progress.
Assessment
By assessing the individual in question, healthcare professionals will be able to determine the necessary steps to move forward. This assessment includes factors such as psychological factors, social factors, environmental factors, physical factors, cultural factors, developmental factors, and genetic factors that may be influencing the use of opioids. The assessment should also take into account the existing symptoms, behaviors, and past history of opioid use that the individual may present with.
Nursing Diagnosis
An important part of a nursing care plan for opioid use is determining the nursing diagnosis, this is the classification of actual or potential problems that the individual may face due to their opioid use. These diagnoses can range from high-risk behaviors such as utilizing injection drugs, low self-esteem, malnutrition, and fatigue due to sleep disturbances. All of these diagnoses could affect long term mental and physical health.
Outcomes
The nurse should aim to set realistic and achievable goals for the individual. These goals should be tailored to the individual’s needs and desires. Examples of goals would be decreasing the number of times the individual uses opioids, abstaining from using opioids, decreasing the number of high risk behaviors the individual participates in, improved eating, and sleeping habits and more.
Interventions
One of the most important parts of the nursing care plan is determining the interventions, which are the steps taken to help the individual reach their goals and maintain abstinence from opioids. These interventions can include referrals to appropriate resources such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, support groups, and medication-assisted treatment. In addition, healthcare professionals should recommend nutritional counseling and exercise programs, as well as provide emotional and social support.
Rationales
It is important for healthcare professionals to understand why certain interventions were chosen and to provide rationales for why they are essential for the individual’s recovery. This allows them to create the most effective plan of care, as well as providing education to the individual about their unique situation and why the particular interventions have been chosen.
Evaluation
Evaluating progress is a critical step in the nursing care plan process. This will allow healthcare professionals to understand if the individual is progressing towards their goals, as well as measuring the effectiveness of the interventions being used. Evaluations should include regular assessments of the individual’s opioid use, any high risk behaviors, mental or physical health, and adherence to the plan of care.
Conclusion
Creating a nursing care plan for opioid use is important for helping the individual with the understanding of their opioid use disorder and how to address it effectively. Engaging in proper assessment and diagnosis, setting achievable goals, and utilizing specific interventions in combination with continual evaluation is necessary to ensure that the individual is on the right path to recovery.
FAQs
- What is a nursing care plan? A nursing care plan is a personalized plan of care created by a medical professional in order to help individuals achieve improved health and well-being.
- What is included in a nursing care plan for opioid use? The plan will include assessment of the individual, identification of the nursing diagnosis, setting achievable goals, interventions to meet the desired outcomes, rationales for the chosen interventions, evaluations of the individual’s progress, and adjustments for the plan of care.
- What interventions are used in a nursing care plan for opioid use? Interventions can include referrals to appropriate resources such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, support groups, and medication-assisted treatment, as well as nutritional counseling, exercise programs, and emotional and social support.
- How is progress evaluated in a nursing care plan for opioid use? Evaluations should include regular assessments of the individual’s opioid use, any high risk behaviors, mental or physical health, and adherence to the plan of care.
- What techniques can be used to help individuals abstain from using opioids? Techniques such as Cognitive-behavioral therapy, support groups, peer counseling and support, and medication assisted treatment can all be beneficial in abstaining from opioid use.
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