Nursing Commons^™

Utilizing Outpatient Telehealth As A Treatment Approach For Patients With Substance Use Disorder: A Quality Improvement Project, Veronica Kwegyir-Afful

DNP Scholarly Projects

Background: The issue of substance use disorder (SUD) has demonstrated a growing prevalence both in the United States (U.S.) and globally. Effective treatment modalities have been devised for individuals afflicted by SUD, thereby enabling their post-treatment prognosis to be parallel to that of patients with other chronic diseases, such as diabetes. However, several factors or barriers impede individuals with SUD from assessing treatment. These barriers encompass financial constraints stemming from inadequate insurance coverage and high cost, the stigma surrounding SUD, which results in patient's hesitancy to seek treatment treat, adverse societal attitudes, collateral social percussions like work hour losses and …

Optimizing The Effectiveness Of Naloxone Distribution In The State Of New Hampshire: A Program Evaluation, Lisa M. Armes

DNP Scholarly Projects

In order to develop an understanding of the state-funded community naloxone distribution program in New Hampshire, a program evaluation was conducted. The project collected data on distributed naloxone and opioid overdose deaths between the years of 2014-2018 but focused primarily on comparing data from 2017 and 2018. There were 409 opioid deaths in 2017 and 399 opioid overdose deaths in 2018 in New Hampshire. Between 2017 and 2018, naloxone supply was increased by 38%-493%, varying widely across New Hampshire counties. Statistically significant increases in naloxone distributed to target users occurred only in Hillsborough and Strafford counties. Significant changes in death …

Religious Coping And Christ-Centered Recovery For Women With Substance Use Disorders, Mary Beth Bever

DNP Scholarly Projects

Women have unique risk factors for the development of substance use disorder (SUD), barriers to SUD treatment, and risk factors for SUD relapse that require holistic care models and provide trauma-informed care approaches that address effective coping strategies. The use of religion and spirituality has been commonplace in many SUD programs to inspire the use of positive religious coping; however, negative religious coping may also be drawn on which poses a potential harm for women with SUD. The aim of this project was to assess for a correlation in positive and negative religious coping scores and program completion rates in …

Contraception Utilization Among Women, Ages 18-45, Receiving Medication Assisted Therapy For Opioid Use Disorder In Middle Tennessee, Kerry J. Ternes

DNP Scholarly Projects

The prevalence of unintended pregnancy among women receiving medication assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder (OUD) exceeds 80%. While much of the existing literature has focused on the consequences of substance use in pregnancy, few have focused on the prevention of unintended pregnancy. This study explored barriers and facilitating factors impacting contraception use among women, ages 18-45, receiving MAT for OUD in Middle Tennessee. A cross-sectional survey design was used to describe the women’s sociodemographic and health characteristics; report their knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors; and to assess if these variables are associated with current use of contraception. Among survey …

Responding To Opioid Use Disorder: Identifying The Therapeutic Commitment Of Maine Nurse Practitioners, Jordan S. Porter

DNP Scholarly Projects

Background: Buprenorphine, an underutilized pharmacotherapy, can play a key role in closing the substantial opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment gap in the United States. Although 2016 US legislation authorized trained nurse practitioners (NPs) to obtain the Drug Enforcement Agency waiver to prescribe buprenorphine for OUD, many NPs do not have the waiver, and a large proportion of waivered NPs do not prescribe to capacity. Purpose: To identify the therapeutic commitment of Maine NPs to OUD as well as understand why Maine NPs do not adopt and utilize buprenorphine for the treatment of OUD. Review of Evidence: Commitment …

Peer Support For Addiction In The Inpatient Setting, Rebecca Sweeney

DNP Scholarly Projects

Background: In 2006 the Institute of Medicine reported that combined mental illness and substance use disorder was the second leading cause of disability and death in women and the highest cause in men. More recent data obtained from the 2016 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (Ahrnsbratz et al 2016) indicates in 2016 only one in ten of the people who need treatment, receive it. At Cambridge Health Alliance’s Everett Hospital, the site of this pilot project, opioid overdose and acute alcohol intoxication comprise one in every ten visits in the Emergency Department. In January of 2018, CHA partnered …

A Pilot Of Emergency Department-Initiated Buprenorphine For Opioid Withdrawal And Opioid Use Disorder: A Quality Improvement Project, Jason Lucey

DNP Scholarly Projects

Background: Emergency department (ED) visits for opioid related visits have increased dramatically during the opioid epidemic. Buprenorphine is an evidence-based therapy for treating opioid use disorder (OUD) and withdrawal. Unfortunately, lack of access to pharmacotherapy for OUD, including buprenorphine, remains a challenge. Research supports ED-initiated buprenorphine as a practical, cost-effective strategy which engages patients in treatment better than non-pharmacologic alternatives.

Purpose: The aims of this improvement project were to 1) develop a pilot process in an ED for providing buprenorphine to patients in opioid withdrawal or for OUD; 2) recruit and train a cohort of ED staff on the process; …

The Effects Of A Brief Yoga Intervention On Psychologic And Physiologic Measures In Women Recovering From Substance Abuse Disorders, Robi C. Hopp

DNP Scholarly Projects

Women are the fastest-growing population experiencing substance use disorders (SUDs) in the United States. Multiple barriers e.g., mental health disorders, reduced self-efficacy, lack of social support have been identified and negatively impact acute and sustainable recovery efforts. The aim of this project was to evaluate the effects of yoga on mood status, biometrics, and self-efficacy toward yoga in a cohort at The Next Door, a substance abuse treatment center for women only. This was a quasi-experimental research approach with 14 women completing a total of 8 weekly yoga sessions over a ten-week period. Appropriate demographic data was collected. Measurements were …