Screening for Alcohol Use Disorder and Management of Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome in Critical Care Patients

Activity Summary

Required reading for all learners: Implicit Bias impacts patient outcomes

Evidence-based research indicates that subjective questionnaires should be eliminated in screening for alcohol use disorder and management of alcohol withdrawal syndrome in critical care patients. The project site was a 17-bed adult medical intensive care unit in a large, southeastern US teaching hospital. Interventions consisted of the elimination of previously used tools and implementation of the Prediction of Alcohol Withdrawal Severity Scale for alcohol use disorder screening and the Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale and symptom-triggered benzodiazepine administration for alcohol withdrawal syndrome management.

Objectives

Identify the barriers to assessing alcohol use and withdrawal in the critical care patient
Analyze the factors that compromise the level of risk for alcohol withdrawal as noted in the ICU alcohol withdrawal protocol
Interpret the posed risk of not adequately screening or managing alcohol use and/or withdrawal

Continuing Education Disclosure Statement

Successful Completion

Learners must complete the entire activity and the associated evaluation to be awarded contact hours AND read Implicit Bias impacts patient outcomes. No partial credit will be awarded.

Accreditation

The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.
Provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider number CEP 1036, for {contactHours} contact hours.

Disclosures

Any relevant relationship between an ineligible company and an individual with the ability to influence clinical content will be identified by the Nurse Planner within the activity. Any relevant relationship between an ineligible company and an individual with the ability to influence clinical content has been mitigated.

Accreditation refers to recognition of continuing education only and does not imply AACN, ANCC, or CBRN approval or endorsement of any commercial products discussed or displayed in conjunction with this educational activity. Activities with pharmacology hours are to assist the APRN in fulfilling the pharmacotherapeutic education requirements for licensure and certification renewals.

Activities meet the standards for most states that require mandatory continuing education for license and/or certification renewal. AACN recommends consulting with your own state board of nursing or credentialing organization before submitting your certificate of completion.

Refund Policy

Continuing Education Activities are nonrefundable.