Supporting veterans with substance use disorder

Veterans are considered to be highly affected by the increased amount of pressure put on them…while in combat. One of the issues that has emerged is that of mental health and a need to come up with a strong quality process that must be considered as part of deliberating on the various problems that could affect their well-being. In essence, the current state needs to be propped up with increased follow-up as a way of helping them even more. Veterans [with substance misuse disorder] are prone to other ailments that could derail their recovery. Thus, immediate action is needed to help save them. More is needed to improve the impact of any policy in place and diminish the incidence of mental health [issues] that emerge [with substance misuse].

Improvement is needed in the area of rehabilitation and targeting veterans across various parts of the country. Little is being done to ensure they remain committed to [rehabilitation] programs despite their importance. A good way of enhancing the well-being [of veterans with substance misuse disorder] is by ensuring that they are all provided with care in environments where they feel comfortable. Having such environment can help deal with quality of care outcomes because many veterans need a home. Many of them have lost their homes while others have become homeless in the process. Advocating for reforms will be a way of ensuring that many more are not affected by [substance use disorder] and can deal with their conditions better through the assistance and interventions they receive. With a sound program, it becomes easier to build a system that can be easily defined by the best practices in the area of drug abuse protection.

Getting as many veterans as possible to admit their problem, seek help, and use the resources present to deal with their mental health and substance [misuse] issues can be a good starting point for providing long-term interventions. Good policy development may be an excellent way of assisting the growing number of veterans seeking help for substance [misuse], for example, establishing a home-care project where veterans are returned to their home environments and integrated into everyday activities with the hope of improving their adaptation to the surroundings.

An interprofessional approach is vital, especially when it comes to addressing deep-rooted issues. Substance [misuse] requires care from nurses, social workers, therapists, psychologists, physicians, and counselors. There is a clear demand for an interprofessional approach to tackle the issue of drug misuse from all possible angles. Ultimately, this will improve the way veterans handle their issues and improve their response to their situations.

I hope this matter generates considerable attention to brainstorm ways of helping the individuals addressing the concerns of the veterans.

Surjit Purewal RN, BSN

What if you’re the bully?

Your January 2019 article titled “What if you’re the bully?” (myamericannurse.com/what-if-youre-the-bully/ was a brilliant read and an eye opener to all nurses. The author patiently captured the workplace menace that could impact how nurses function and provide high-quality care if bullying is not curbed. Most importantly, [bullying] can jeopardize the patient experience and overall desired outcomes.

In my personal opinion, managers could go a step further to introduce the self-assessment tool [described in the article] during new hire orientation. It also could be introduced during unit council meetings to generate a healthy conversation that sheds more light on the magnitude of the problem.

Or, perhaps, we should all be bold enough to take Dr. Cynthia Clark’s Workplace Civility Index Assessment Tool (bit.ly/2Tu2k3k) to determine where we all stand as frontline staff, nursing leaders, or as independent providers.

The assessment tool has a larger goal to achieve that was not highlighted: to make us better individuals not only in our workplaces, but at home and in our communities.

Lydia O. Falade, MSN, MHA, RN