Nursing and Mental Health Services

Running head: NURSING AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
NURSING AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author note:

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Question 1
Considering the stages of the transtheoretical model of change by Prochaska and
DiClemente, Emma is likely in the stage of ‘Preparation’. This stage is characterized by the
concerned individual feeling the need to undertake changes in health behavior and shows
eagerness is participating health behavior change activities at the earliest. Emma can be placed in
this stage of change since it is observed that she expressed disgust over her detrimental habits
and hence, is eager to eradicate her drug addiction in order to be responsible parent.
Question 2
 Pharmacotherapy and Detoxification: Detoxification involves gradual withdrawal
from alcohol and drug consumption, in order to remove prolonged accumulation of
consumed substances over the years from the body system. Hence, considering Emma’s
prolonged history of drug and alcohol abuse, merely adopting withdrawal treatments may
result in relapses and hence, pharmacotherapy comprising of prescribed medications and
a nutritious diet will prove to be helpful.
 Counseling and Peer Support:Counseling involves establishment of direct
communication between the client and the clinician, where the counselor may use
psychotherapeutic strategies to help the concerned patient. Likewise peer support in the
form of self-help group engagement is proven to be beneficial in provision of assistance,
support and understanding to the patient. In Emma, considering her disruptive and
negative thought process of being a bad parents, counseling in the form of psychotherapy
will be beneficial in improving her thought process. Engaging her support groups with

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similar AOD patients, will allow her to gather the required mutual support which she had
lost upon being separated from her partner.
Question 3
In order to discuss the treatment options with Emma, a collaborative perspective will be
utilized which will involve a patient centered approach and result in direct discussion with Emma
in order to obtain her personal opinions. This will involve building an effective working
relationship with Emma where the counselor will discuss with her the available treatment
options, followed by obtaining her consent and decision. Successful collaborative approach will
be undertaken by actively involving Emma in the formulation of her treatment plan, which will
reflect her personal preferences.
Question 4
 Aggressiveness and Violence:Individuals with AOD issues are often susceptible to
projections of violent and aggressive behavior as symptoms of withdrawal and relapse
during adherence to their treatment. Hence, Emma may display outbursts of anger and
violence, resulting in increased risk of injuries to the health workers which must be
considered.
 Accidents and Injuries:As side effects of alcohol and drug abuse, AOD patients are
often susceptible to an unsteady movement and gait, resulting in susceptible to trips and
falls. AOD patients are often known to live in untidy homes due to their lack of interest
towards daily life, resulting in slips over objects or floors, which may occur in the
situation of Emma.

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 Compassion fatigue and Emotional Stress:Due to the detrimental emotional
consequences observed in AOD patients, health workers are often susceptible to stress,
emotional fatigue and burnout resulting in anxiety, depression and difficulty to sleep.
Question 5
Detoxification is the process by which individuals suffering from AOD issues are
engaged in gradually withdrawing or completely stopping the consumption of the concerned
harmful substance, in order to result incomplete removal of the same from their system. This
strategy is performed in order to eradicate the detrimental symptoms associated with
consumption of alcohol and drugs. In order to further mitigate the emergence of such undesirable
symptoms, the detoxification program may involve additional therapeutic approaches such as
consumption of a nutritious diet along with prescribed medications or nutritional supplements.
However, detoxification strategies have been associated with withdrawal and relapsing among
AOD patients.
Question 6
Signs and symptoms which can be estimated to be observed in Emma after detox include
withdrawal symptoms in the form of:
 Increased feelings of anxiety and irritability due to heroin withdrawal.
 Increased bowel movements resulting in physiological symptoms of diarrhea due to
heroin withdrawal.
 Withdrawal from alcohol may result in difficulty in sleeping and concentration, coupled
with seizures or hallucinations.