Inhalants
Inhalants Household and workplace products contain chemicals with psychoactive properties when inhaled Rapidly absorbed and reach CNS quickly Most are depressants Long-term use can result in brain damage Cannabis THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) a key ingredient in cannabis causes psychoactive effects Low to moderate doses produce alcohol-like effects Long-term use has cardiopulmonary and mental health effects Legalization […]
Depressants
Depressants Rapid development of tolerance and dependence Commonly used with alcohol Commonly types used: Sedative-hypnotics Barbiturates Benzodiazepines Barbiturate-like drugs Depress CNS Tolerance develops to drug’s effects but not brainstem-depressant effects Opioids Misuse of illegal street drugs and prescription opioids Cause sedation and analgesia Frequently abused Toxicity Unintentional overdose occurs frequently Death can occur from CNS […]
Stimulants
Stimulants Highly addictive Increase cardiac activity Excite CNS by increasing neurotransmitters Norepinephrine Serotonin Dopamine Toxicity Sympathetic overdrive Can be fatal No antidote Emergency management is based on clinical manifestations Supportive care for agitation and cardiovascular symptoms Withdrawal Not an emergency Supportive care Quiet environment Sleeping and eating at will Suicide precautions if indicated Assessment findings […]
Alcohol Withdrawal Delirium
Alcohol Withdrawal Delirium Serious complication Can occur 2-3 days after the last drink Lasts 2-3 days Risk increases with greater alcohol dependence Manifestation Interprofessional Care Disorientation Visual, tactile, or auditory hallucinations Seizures Continued use of benzodiazepines Carbamazepine (Tegretol) or valproate (Depakote) to treat seizures Antipsychotic agents e.g. chlorpromazine (Thorazine), haloperidol (Haldol) Chlordiazepoxide (Librium) if psychosis […]
Manifestations – Interprofessional Care
Manifestations Interprofessional Care Agitation Anxiety Increased Heart rate Increased BP Sweating Nausea Tremors Insomnia Hyperactivity Benzodiazepines e.g. lorazepam (Ativan) or midazolam (Versed) to prevent seizures and delirium Thiamine to prevent Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome Multivitamins e.g. folic acid, B vitamins Magnesium sulfate to treat low serum magnesium IV glucose solution to treat hypoglycemia β-blockers (e.g. propranolol) or […]
Effects of aging
Effects of aging Drug-receptor interaction Brain receptors become more sensitive, making psychoactive drugs very potent. Metabolism Liver mass shrinks. Hepatic blood flow and enzyme activity decline. Metabolism drops to 1/2 to 2/3 the rate of young adults. Enzymes lose ability to process some drugs, thus prolonging drug half-life. Absorption Gastric emptying rate and gastrointestinal […]
Nursing management
Nursing management Nurses play a critical role Conducting a comprehensive history and physical assessment Participating in plan of care Teaching patient and caregiver Symptom management Evaluating patient and family outcomes Nursing assessment First attend to primary needs Ensure assistive devices are used Allow plenty of time Interview family or caregivers separately Involves an inter-professional approach […]
Chronic illness and Older Adults
Chronic illness and Older Adults Older Adults Aging population Surviving acute illness Living with chronic illness Becoming more educated and resourceful More ethnically diverse Demographics of Aging Those reaching age 65 can expect additional years of life 17.8 for men 20.4 for women Young-old adults are 65-74 years Old-old adults are 85 and older Frail […]
Process of patient teaching
Process of patient teaching Assessment of learning needs involves 4 main areas: Physical factors What is the patient’s age? Is the patient acutely ill? Is the patient fatigued or in pain? What is the primary diagnosis? Are there additional medical problems? What is the patient’s current mental status? What is the patient’s hearing ability? Visual […]
Teaching-Learning Process
Teaching-Learning Process Nurse as Teacher Required competencies Knowledge of subject matter Communication skills Teaching and caregivers has many challenges, including; Lack of time – Can be a barrier to effective teaching. Tell the patient at the beginning of the interaction how much time you can devote to the session. Some teaching should be delivered or […]