Post by Edgar Hungwa on Jun 25, 2015 2:53:05 GMT
I do not have personal or familial experience with issues relating to substance abuse. The little that I know is from what I have had from other people talking about it. I am also currently working in an aged mental health facility and as a result, I do not come across a great number of substance abuse clients. However, I have had experience with a few patients who have been admitted in the facility with alcohol abuse problems. However, these clients did not have alcohol abuse as their primary diagnosis, but usually as a secondary or tertiary problem that needed attention in planning their care and formed part of their treatment plan. The dual diagnosis workshop was therefore a huge eye-opener for me and broadened my understanding of what it is and how to deal with it.
First of all, I was confused by the meaning of the term ‘dual diagnosis’, and the workshop was important in explain and clarifying the concept for me. For example, I was enlightened of the fact that dual diagnosis confuses the clinical picture, thereby negatively impacting on patients’ treatment and recovery. I was also shocked by both the magnitude and prevalence of the problem, including the use of illicit substances that compounds mental illness. At the same time, I was also relieved and happy that there were facilities that dealt with this problem, including hospitals. This was important because it highlighted for me that there was in existence an integrated approach to dealing with the problem. The workshop also made me feel obliged as a nurse to be conscious of and motivated to act of issues related to dual diagnosis.The workshop highlighted the issue of dual diagnosis not only as a widespread problem, but also as a crucial nursing issue. As a result, dual diagnosis requires serious attention, including understanding the process and models of change. For example, the workshop highlighted the motivational interviewing model, including stages of change as a model for behaviour change.
The workshop also educated me on the different stage by stage nursing interventions that can be employed to facilitate change in people with dual diagnoses. For example, the use of psycho-education for people in the pre-contemplation stage to make them realise that they have a problem and instigate the need for change.The workshop was a learning curve for me in number of ways. Firstly, the workshop emphasised the need for harm minimisation through a number of methods, including harm reduction, demand reduction and supply reduction. The workshop also emphasised the role that government policy plays in dealing with dual diagnosis problems. The workshop also highlighted the negative impact of social issues such as stigma on dual diagnosis and the negative impact these social issues have on successfully addressing the problem. The workshop also highlighted the different stages, from pre-contemplation to relapse that people with dual diagnosis problems go through during behaviour change. The workshop also highlighted the need for screening and assessment for dual diagnosis in order to identify and treat clients and promote recovery. The workshop also highlighted the skills that I would need as nurse to promote behaviour change, including effective listening skills.
The problem of dual diagnosis is widespread, given the widespread use of substances among people with mental health problems. To identify and treat people with dual diagnosis problems, I need to be able to screen and assess client for dual diagnosis as a nurse. The treatment of dual diagnosis includes, among other things, behaviour change on the part of the client. As a nurse, I need to have the requisite skills to facilitate behaviour change.
First of all, I was confused by the meaning of the term ‘dual diagnosis’, and the workshop was important in explain and clarifying the concept for me. For example, I was enlightened of the fact that dual diagnosis confuses the clinical picture, thereby negatively impacting on patients’ treatment and recovery. I was also shocked by both the magnitude and prevalence of the problem, including the use of illicit substances that compounds mental illness. At the same time, I was also relieved and happy that there were facilities that dealt with this problem, including hospitals. This was important because it highlighted for me that there was in existence an integrated approach to dealing with the problem. The workshop also made me feel obliged as a nurse to be conscious of and motivated to act of issues related to dual diagnosis.The workshop highlighted the issue of dual diagnosis not only as a widespread problem, but also as a crucial nursing issue. As a result, dual diagnosis requires serious attention, including understanding the process and models of change. For example, the workshop highlighted the motivational interviewing model, including stages of change as a model for behaviour change.
The workshop also educated me on the different stage by stage nursing interventions that can be employed to facilitate change in people with dual diagnoses. For example, the use of psycho-education for people in the pre-contemplation stage to make them realise that they have a problem and instigate the need for change.The workshop was a learning curve for me in number of ways. Firstly, the workshop emphasised the need for harm minimisation through a number of methods, including harm reduction, demand reduction and supply reduction. The workshop also emphasised the role that government policy plays in dealing with dual diagnosis problems. The workshop also highlighted the negative impact of social issues such as stigma on dual diagnosis and the negative impact these social issues have on successfully addressing the problem. The workshop also highlighted the different stages, from pre-contemplation to relapse that people with dual diagnosis problems go through during behaviour change. The workshop also highlighted the need for screening and assessment for dual diagnosis in order to identify and treat clients and promote recovery. The workshop also highlighted the skills that I would need as nurse to promote behaviour change, including effective listening skills.
The problem of dual diagnosis is widespread, given the widespread use of substances among people with mental health problems. To identify and treat people with dual diagnosis problems, I need to be able to screen and assess client for dual diagnosis as a nurse. The treatment of dual diagnosis includes, among other things, behaviour change on the part of the client. As a nurse, I need to have the requisite skills to facilitate behaviour change.