Benzodiazepines
Providers prescribe benzodiazepines (BZDs)—also known as anxiolytics, hypnotics, muscle relaxants, anticonvulsants, and amnestic medications—to manage several symptoms and conditions, including anxiety, insomnia, alcohol withdrawal,…
Addiction
Opioids: Follow the evidence
To ensure safety and effective care, nurses must maintain their knowledge and understanding of opioid pharmacologic properties and best practices when caring for patients…
Opioid overdose cardiopulmonary emergencies
Over the past 10 years, opioid-related overdoses and death have steadily increased across the United States. The World Health Organization indicates that about half…
Implementing trauma-informed care
Childhood trauma can result in severe mental and physical consequences that reverberate throughout a person’s life. Despite the widespread occurrence of childhood trauma, most…
Comorbid mental illness on acute medical units
What do you think when you have a patient with pneumonia and a history of mental illness? Before even meeting the patient, do you…
Nursing needs a mental health makeover
Easy access to resources and erasing stigma are key. For too long, nurses have struggled quietly with mental health issues, fearing stigma or negative…
Medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorders: Implications for surgical patients
Anesthesia and analgesia have used opium and opium compounds for thousands of years. However, by the end of the 20th century, overuse and misuse…
Optimizing postoperative pain management in patients with chronic pain
Evidence-based recommendations. Takeaways: Inadequate postoperative pain relief can increase length of stay, delay discharge, increase readmission rates, and delay ambulation. Exploring the postoperative challenges…
Avoiding iatrogenic opioid dependency and addiction
The opioid epidemic poses a complex conundrum. Federal and state governments have implemented various policies and appropriated millions of dollars to address the problem,…
Esophageal varices
Darrel has been drinking 1 pint of whiskey each day for 35 years. He worked in construction until he was terminated for absenteeism. His…
The opioid epidemic—a crisis within a crisis
Opioid overdose deaths are skyrocketing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Author Jennie Burke movingly wrote of her brother’s death from a heroin overdose in May…
BEAM: The behavioral evaluation and addiction management team
Workplace violence isn’t part of the nursing job description, but according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, healthcare workers are four times more…
Benzodiazepines
Providers prescribe benzodiazepines (BZDs)—also known as anxiolytics, hypnotics, muscle relaxants, anticonvulsants, and amnestic medications—to manage several symptoms and conditions, including anxiety, insomnia,…
Opioids: Follow the evidence
To ensure safety and effective care, nurses must maintain their knowledge and understanding of opioid pharmacologic properties and best practices when caring…
Opioid overdose cardiopulmonary emergencies
Over the past 10 years, opioid-related overdoses and death have steadily increased across the United States. The World Health Organization indicates that…
Implementing trauma-informed care
Childhood trauma can result in severe mental and physical consequences that reverberate throughout a person’s life. Despite the widespread occurrence of childhood…
Comorbid mental illness on acute medical units
What do you think when you have a patient with pneumonia and a history of mental illness? Before even meeting the patient,…
Nursing needs a mental health makeover
Easy access to resources and erasing stigma are key. For too long, nurses have struggled quietly with mental health issues, fearing stigma…
Medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorders: Implications for surgical patients
Anesthesia and analgesia have used opium and opium compounds for thousands of years. However, by the end of the 20th century, overuse…
Optimizing postoperative pain management in patients with chronic pain
Evidence-based recommendations. Takeaways: Inadequate postoperative pain relief can increase length of stay, delay discharge, increase readmission rates, and delay ambulation. Exploring the…
Avoiding iatrogenic opioid dependency and addiction
The opioid epidemic poses a complex conundrum. Federal and state governments have implemented various policies and appropriated millions of dollars to address…
Esophageal varices
Darrel has been drinking 1 pint of whiskey each day for 35 years. He worked in construction until he was terminated for…
The opioid epidemic—a crisis within a crisis
Opioid overdose deaths are skyrocketing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Author Jennie Burke movingly wrote of her brother’s death from a heroin overdose…
BEAM: The behavioral evaluation and addiction management team
Workplace violence isn’t part of the nursing job description, but according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, healthcare workers are four…