Introduction
The case under study has exposed the importance and the need for different healthcare experts’ cooperation for better patient outcomes. Interprofessional collaboration is the joint participation of numerous specialists in the medical field working with patients and communicating each other’s distinctive viewpoints in providing the highest quality care (Vatn & Dahl, 2022). All Registered Nurses have been trained to work with other care providers for the best interest of the patient (Bachynsky, 2020). This work intends to demonstrate the collaboration between a doctor, a nurse, a therapist, and an addiction counselor for a better treatment result for the patient under study. This paper outlines and describes the role each specialist plays in the healing process of the patient under scrutiny.
Body
Patients Background
The patient, James is a 54-year-old male who has previously been diagnosed with anxiety and intravenous heroin utilization in addition to pneumonia which was treated with amoxicillin. James heavily drinks alcohol and smokes tobacco including cannabis on regular basis. He is jobless, homeless due to divorce, and has no contact with his two children. The only family he has is his sister who is also an alcoholic and cannabis user as his support. James was involved in a work accident that left him injured and his colleagues dead which might have led to trauma as he developed anxiety and to cope with that, he has been using cannabis and heroin (Ostafin & Proulx, 2022). James also seems to have mood swings, anger issues, and a history of depression. James initially presented to the GP with an infected right leg ulcer and was prescribed medication that he did not adhere to.
Presently, James has been treated for the worsening leg ulcer through surgery and he is recuperating in the ward. While in the ward he is very agitated and expresses his pain to the nurse. James seems to have alcohol while in the hospital with the assistance of his sister as he smells of alcohol and has been demanding it. However, according to the NIC, as James is a drug user, he is making pain as an excuse to have access to drugs. The NIC and other nurses looking after James should adhere to the Registered Nurse Standard of Practice and provide patient-centered care, be non-judgemental, be respectful of the patient’s experiences, and traumas, build rapport, collaborate with other professionals, perform mental and pain assessment and many more (Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, 2017). The NIC should involve other experts where her/she is not capable of helping.
Treatment Goals and Actions Taken
Associated pathophysiology of James is connected with family and personal problems experienced by the patient, which bring a strong psychological discomfort to the man. Associated pharmacology of the patient is connected with the regular use of narcotic substances, such as cannabis. The development of patient goals will be based on the elimination of alcohol and drug addiction and an unsatisfactory mental state, which apparently are the cause of the pain that the patient complains about.
The development of interventions will be carried out gradually to prevent mentally unstable patients from refusing treatment. The development of evaluation of care will be carried out at each stage of interventions with a focus on the patient’s assessment of psychological and physical discomfort on a 10-point scale. To develop a plan of care, critical thinking will be applied, focused on analyzing the patient’s condition. The previous knowledge about pathophysiology, which will be integrated, is knowledge about the peculiarities of thinking of drug and alcohol addicts.
The previous knowledge about pharmacotherapeutics, which will be integrated, is knowledge about the compatibility of narcotic substances with medical drugs. During treatment, the quality use of medicines will be utilized based on a systematic problem-solving and evidence-based approach in decision making about patients with acute, chronic and mental health issues across the lifespan and cultural contexts. Patient’s history, presenting problems and the related pathophysiological processes, which are related to family problems and alcohol and drug addictions, allow to identify priority problems.
Comprehensive assessment and specific observation showed that James needs first of all to go to rehab with the help of a psychologist and a narcologist. The assessment tools used will be the patient’s own assessment of his physical and mental well-being. Applicable tests will be a urine test and a general blood test to monitor the patient’s compliance with abstinence from alcohol and drugs. Holistic plan of care developed by setting specific goals of the patient’s rejection of existing addictions.
Formulated nursing interventions and treatments will also be carried out based on the results of medical tests. The rationales for this are that the testimony of a patient with confused consciousness due to drug or alcohol intoxication is not always objective. Ways to evaluate the effectiveness of actions include taking into account the opinions of narcologist and psychologist working with James. The relevance of specific nursing standards that should be considered are standards for caring for people with addiction (Romem et al., 2021). Code of conduct and code of ethics when working with such patients consist in showing maximum patience, compassion and understanding. Legalities and relevant legislation provide for the registration of a patient with drug addiction in the appropriate authorities. Recovery-oriented practice will consist in an approach based not on pain relief, but on the elimination of its causes.
In the future nursing practice, evidence-based knowledge obtained during the work of a patient with two serious addictions will be necessarily used. As a Registered Nurse, I would highly prioritize this situation due to the strength of the patient’s addiction and strong complaints of pain on his part. As a Registered Nurse, I would manage this situation paying special attention to each successful step towards getting rid of addiction.
The best assessment tool for the physician to use at this point will be PQRST (provocation/palliation, quantity/quality, region/radiation, and timing). The doctor will employ this tool to accurately describe, evaluate and document a patient’s pain (Gauchan, 2019). Additionally, the approach helps to select the appropriate treatment method. The principle of beneficence is critical here because the doctor must choose the treatment approach that benefits the client (McDermott-Levy et al., 2018). It is following the above guideline that the clinician decides that James must go through surgery
The therapist can utilize Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (or HADS) to examine his psychological health as his history shows he has previously been treated for depression (Hatch, et al., 2018). If there is a high risk to mental illness, the therapist will apply the principle of justice and educate James on his condition and the importance of addressing his issues. If he agrees to take up therapy, the counselor has to inform him about; confidentiality, his right as a patient, and informed consent.
The addiction counselor who takes up James’ case can utilize Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (or AUDIT) to identify signs of hazardous and harmful drinking and use of other drugs. The specialist will still require James’ consent before he/she can admit him to this program. The expert will provide James with information on the rehabilitation as mandated by the code of conduct of nursing practice (Romem et al., 2021). The drug and substance rehabilitation program will be the final stage of James’ treatment.
Conclusion
This work aimed to demonstrate the importance of collaboration among various healthcare experts to achieve better treatment outcomes for the patient. The case study has revealed that there are clients who present with issues that cannot be handled by one medical specialist. The case of James has shown that he needed the assistance of a nurse, a medical doctor, a therapist, and a counselor to fully recover.
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