DNP Student Barrett Publishes Article in the Journal of Addictions Nursing

DNP student John Barrett published an article entitled "Embracing a Nurse-Driven Alcohol Withdrawal Protocol Through Quality Improvement" in the October/December issue of the Journal of Addictions Nursing. Co-authors include experts from Duke Regional Hospital and Campbell University.

Abstract: Alcohol withdrawal can lead to severe complications including seizures, delirium tremens, and death if not treated appropriately. Nurses are critical to the safety and outcomes of these patients. The objective of this retrospective study was to determine if nursing education on a community hospital's alcohol withdrawal protocol led to improved nursing compliance. Nursing education is a good place to start in improving compliance with an alcohol withdrawal protocol, but physicians need to be included to increase standardization within the institution. Future study should look at the effectiveness of different assessment frequency intervals and its impact on patient-centered outcomes.