Chapter 19, Substance-Related and
Addictive Disorders
An alcoholic patient is admitted to an inpatient unit for treatment. When should the
interdisciplinary health care team be prepared for this patient's withdrawal symptoms to
peak?
5-7 days
3-6 weeks
24-72 hours
8 hours after last drink - answer24-72 hours
This is when symptoms of alcohol withdrawal typically peak.
The interdisciplinary health care team is caring for a patient with a substance use
disorder (SUD) who is experiencing alcohol withdrawal. Which is the most serious
manifestation the health care team should monitor for in this patient?
Seizures
Agitation
Headache
Tachycardia - answerSeizures
Seizures are considered the most serious complication of alcohol withdrawal.
The health care team is caring for an alcoholic patient who has been prescribed
acamprosate. The patient tells the health care team that he has still been drinking in the
afternoons. Which action should the health care team take first?
Discontinue the medication.
Replace the medication with disulfiram.
Refer the patient to an outpatient treatment facility.
Encourage the patient to join and attend Alcoholics Anonymous. - answerDiscontinue
the medication.
Acamprosate should not be taken by patients who are still drinking because it can
cause serious side effects.
A patient is admitted to an inpatient treatment center for opioid addiction. The patient
tells the interdisciplinary health care team that she is afraid to experience the symptoms
of opioid withdrawal. Which medication is the best choice for this patient?
, Clonidine
Lorazepam
Naltrexone
Buprenorphine - answerBuprenorphine
Buprenorphine, as a partial agonist, does not activate mu receptors to the same extent
as methadone. Its effects increase until they reach a plateau. At that level, opioid-
addicted patients can discontinue opioid use without experiencing withdrawal. This is
the best medication choice for the patient concern
A nicotine addict is being assessed by the nurse. Which tool will assist the nurse during
the assessment?
CAGE
CIWA
AUDIT
Fagerstrom - answerFagerstrom
The Fagerstrom Test assesses the intensity of the patient's addiction to nicotine.
The nurse is assessing a patient who is going through alcohol withdrawal. Which
assessment tool will help the nurse determine the patient's need for withdrawal
medications?
CIWA
COWS
CAGE
AUDIT - answerCIWA
The nurse is developing interventions for a patient with an SUD. Which intervention best
facilitates the nurse-patient therapeutic relationship?
Encouraging involvement in a 12-step program
Encouraging family participation in the patient's care
Using empathy to acknowledge the patient's struggle
Consulting with a nutritionist to help improve the patient's diet - answerUsing empathy to
acknowledge the patient's struggle
The nurse who uses empathy to acknowledge the patient's struggle is building rapport
with the patient to enhance the nurse-patient relationship.
The interdisciplinary health care team is caring for an agitated alcohol withdrawal
patient with advanced cirrhosis. Which medication would benefit this patient most?
Thiamine
Clonidine
Addictive Disorders
An alcoholic patient is admitted to an inpatient unit for treatment. When should the
interdisciplinary health care team be prepared for this patient's withdrawal symptoms to
peak?
5-7 days
3-6 weeks
24-72 hours
8 hours after last drink - answer24-72 hours
This is when symptoms of alcohol withdrawal typically peak.
The interdisciplinary health care team is caring for a patient with a substance use
disorder (SUD) who is experiencing alcohol withdrawal. Which is the most serious
manifestation the health care team should monitor for in this patient?
Seizures
Agitation
Headache
Tachycardia - answerSeizures
Seizures are considered the most serious complication of alcohol withdrawal.
The health care team is caring for an alcoholic patient who has been prescribed
acamprosate. The patient tells the health care team that he has still been drinking in the
afternoons. Which action should the health care team take first?
Discontinue the medication.
Replace the medication with disulfiram.
Refer the patient to an outpatient treatment facility.
Encourage the patient to join and attend Alcoholics Anonymous. - answerDiscontinue
the medication.
Acamprosate should not be taken by patients who are still drinking because it can
cause serious side effects.
A patient is admitted to an inpatient treatment center for opioid addiction. The patient
tells the interdisciplinary health care team that she is afraid to experience the symptoms
of opioid withdrawal. Which medication is the best choice for this patient?
, Clonidine
Lorazepam
Naltrexone
Buprenorphine - answerBuprenorphine
Buprenorphine, as a partial agonist, does not activate mu receptors to the same extent
as methadone. Its effects increase until they reach a plateau. At that level, opioid-
addicted patients can discontinue opioid use without experiencing withdrawal. This is
the best medication choice for the patient concern
A nicotine addict is being assessed by the nurse. Which tool will assist the nurse during
the assessment?
CAGE
CIWA
AUDIT
Fagerstrom - answerFagerstrom
The Fagerstrom Test assesses the intensity of the patient's addiction to nicotine.
The nurse is assessing a patient who is going through alcohol withdrawal. Which
assessment tool will help the nurse determine the patient's need for withdrawal
medications?
CIWA
COWS
CAGE
AUDIT - answerCIWA
The nurse is developing interventions for a patient with an SUD. Which intervention best
facilitates the nurse-patient therapeutic relationship?
Encouraging involvement in a 12-step program
Encouraging family participation in the patient's care
Using empathy to acknowledge the patient's struggle
Consulting with a nutritionist to help improve the patient's diet - answerUsing empathy to
acknowledge the patient's struggle
The nurse who uses empathy to acknowledge the patient's struggle is building rapport
with the patient to enhance the nurse-patient relationship.
The interdisciplinary health care team is caring for an agitated alcohol withdrawal
patient with advanced cirrhosis. Which medication would benefit this patient most?
Thiamine
Clonidine
