Nurses' Experience of the Clinical Opioid Withdrawal Scale
Date
2020-04-23
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Abstract
Opioid withdrawal is a complex medical process that can adversely affect physical and mental health, employment and finances, often resulting in strained and lost relationships. Nurses are central figures in acute and ongoing care of people who use opioids. Within inpatient contexts, nurses are responsible for the observation and assessment of patients who are experiencing opioid withdrawal. The Clinical Opioid Withdrawal Scale (COWS) is a tool that was designed to assess and document the common signs and symptoms related to the physical and psychological withdrawal from opioids. Although COWS has been validated for use in both inpatient and outpatient settings, its use by nurses is inconsistent. Using a descriptive phenomenological method, this study will investigate the nurses’ experience with the COWS while caring for opioid withdrawal patients. Insights gained from this study can inform possibilities for changes in practice and policy that enhance the treatment of opioid withdrawal patients on inpatient addictions and mental health units within Alberta Health Services.
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Keywords
Opioid Withdrawal, Clinical Opioid Withdrawal Scale, Nursing
Citation
Jow, C. (2020). Nurses' Experience of the Clinical Opioid Withdrawal Scale (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca.