This morning I received an email from the International Nurses Society on Addictions reminding me that this last week in September, in conjunction with Recovery Month, is Addiction Nurses Week.
Although I have been a member of the International Nurses Society on Addictions from 1995, I believe I have been an addictions nurse since the mid 1970’s when I worked in a general hospital on a medical floor. On that floor, nurses frequently cared for patients who were detoxing. Nurses had little knowledge but the guidance of a general practice physician with a special interest in withdrawal management.
The task of withdrawal management for nurses in general hospitals, on trauma units in emergency rooms, in obstetrics, in neonatal units and anywhere else that nurses are employed is not uncommon. In this world of pharmaceuticals, many of them narcotics and anti anxiety medications, withdrawal is seen more frequently. Therefore, withdrawal management has increased along with any other medical, surgical or psychiatric issue that is to be addressed. We are not addiction counselors, but we are patient advocates and provide our clients with referrals and health teaching about all their health conditions.
So in this Addiction Nurses Week, I salute and thank all of the nurses out there caring for all patients in substance withdrawal. You are all nurses in the most basic and yet challenging of nursing care.
For more information about this organization with webinars, other links, and conferences go to the link below.
International Nurses Society on Addictions at:
“Nurses dispense comfort, compassion, and
caring without even a prescription.”
~ Val Saintsbury
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