Self-Directed Project in Addiction Studies: Progress Report (CNA 550)

This progress report details a student's self-directed project in addiction studies, focusing on the management of clients withdrawing from alcohol in a mental health ward. The report outlines improvements in patient assessment, including the use of tools like AWS and CIWA-AR scales, and enhancements in healthcare services such as monitoring blood alcohol levels, administering medications, and managing complications. Challenges faced, such as meeting the needs of both patients and nurses, were addressed by increasing staffing and providing training. The report also references key literature and identifies future steps in portfolio development, highlighting the importance of consistent care, psychological support, and nutritional management for patients undergoing alcohol withdrawal. The report demonstrates adequate progress in achieving the nominated objectives; identification of challenges encountered and next steps in portfolio development.

Running head: SELF DIRECTED PROJECT IN ADDICTION STUDIES
SELF DIRECTED PROJECT IN ADDICTION STUDIES
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author note

1SELF DIRECTED PROJECT IN ADDICTION STUDIES
Progress Report (Draft)
In meeting the learning contract objectives, firstly there has been significant
improvement in the assessment of patients who are withdrawing from alcohol. More intense
care has been taken in terms of observation of the patients’ blood alcohol level, regular blood
tests and assessment of side effects of withdrawal. Prime importance is being given to
monitoring and documentation using tools like AWS, CIWAAR scale etc. (Littlefield et al.
2018). At the same time, consistency in the provision of quality medical and relevant
healthcare services as well as managing complications and administering medicines have also
seen major improvements. There has been a steady development of better and more efficient
care plan for nurses as well as clients’ needs management. Maintenance of psychological
outbursts and effects, proper nutrition and fluid intake and sleep cycle of the clients are also
being taken care of systematically.
One of the challenges that were faced in the process was meeting the exact needs of
the nurses who were dealing with the patients while at the same time maintaining a balance
between the patients’ needs and the service provided to them (Holt et al. 2017). The
challenge was overcome by assigning more nurses and a few more practicing clinicians and
two psychiatrists over multiple shifts. Documentation and monitoring was mostly done
manually by routine checking but the frequency has been increased greatly by the
introduction of new staff. The problem of using the monitoring tools was overcome by
thorough practice sessions and briefings. Patients in the early stage of withdrawal also
required more intensive care which was also efficiently handled.

2SELF DIRECTED PROJECT IN ADDICTION STUDIES
References
Holt, C., Dearmon, V., Lawrence, S.M., Lewis, C.L. and Skotzko, C.E., 2017. Implementing
an Alcohol Withdrawal Protocol. Journal of nursing care quality, 32(3), pp.234-241.
Littlefield, A.J., Heavner, M.S., Eng, C.C., Cooper, D.A., Heavner, J.J., Kurtz, J.M. and
Pisani, M.A., 2018. Correlation Between mMINDS and CIWA-Ar Scoring Tools in
Patients With Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome. American Journal of Critical
Care, 27(4), pp.280-286.