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

Criteria for Awarding Contact Hours

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

Accreditation

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

The Nurse Planner has determined that no individuals with the ability to control content of this activity have relevant relationships with ineligible companies.

Activities with pharmacotherapeutic credit are to assist the APRN in fulfilling their education requirements for licensure and certification renewals.

Refund Policy

Continuing Education Activities are nonrefundable.