Using the Modified Minnesota Detoxification Scale to Evaluate Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome: An Integrative Review

Activity Summary

Required reading for all learners: Implicit Bias impacts patient outcomes

Alcohol is the second most commonly abused drug worldwide, and 16 million adults in the United States report heavy alcohol use during at least 1 month of the year. Heavy use of alcohol leads to alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) when consumption is abruptly reduced. The rise of alcohol-related disorders within the United States has led to an increase in alcohol-related hospital admissions for conditions such as acute withdrawal syndrome, liver conditions, digestive complications, and cardiac problems. The most commonly used tool to evaluate alcohol withdrawal is the Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol Scale–Revised (CIWA-Ar), which has not been validated for use in critical care units. This article evaluates whether the mMINDS scale is more effective than the CIWA-Ar tool for evaluating acute withdrawal symptoms in patients in intensive care units.

Objectives

Understand alcohol withdrawal syndrome assessment tools
Describe the applicable patient populations for the CIWA-Ar tool and the mMINDS tool
Describe objective vs subjective data when assessing a patient in acute 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.