Nursing care for patients with alcohol dependence and alcohol withdrawal symptoms: 2 case studies

Abstract

Alcoholism is an important disease that has a high impact on patients with alcohol dependence, their family, and society. The purposes of this case study were to compare nursing care for patients with alcohol dependence and alcohol withdrawal, analyze data, assess problems and nursing care needs. Gordon’s 11 functional health patterns were used to plan nursing diagnoses to lead to nursing outcomes.  

Results: Both cases were diagnosed with alcohol dependence. They were general workers. The first patient was a 44-year-old man who came for follow-up of quitting drinking. He normally drank alcohol every day, did not use drugs, and did not smoke. The second patient was a 47-year-old man with epilepsy, who drank alcohol every day, smoked heavily, and had a history of drug abuse. He came to the hospital with convulsions for 2 hours and discontinuous treatment of epilepsy. Both patients were admitted to the Inpatient Ward of Khon Kaen Hospital. From the health assessment, alcohol withdrawal symptoms were found due to alcohol withdrawal when they stopped drinking. Therefore, nurses are required to have knowledge and skills in nursing care for patients with alcohol dependence and alcohol withdrawal from the initial stage, the withdrawal stage, physical and mental comorbidities, the rehabilitation stage and after treatment to help patients be safe, reduce complications, promote prevention of relapse and improve their quality of life.