National Day of Overdose Awareness: What Nurses can do now

On August 31, National Day of Overdose Awareness, the rates couldn’t be higher. Overdose patterns have modified within the direction of the usage of fentanyl and polysubanie, complicating the families of recognition and the response and stretching families – and clinicists – from the perspective. In every environment, nurses are the primary eyes, ears and supporters. As an addiction doctor, Dr. Nzing Harrison, co -founder and medical director of Eleanor Health, reminds us: “It’s a year to double speed, science and compassion.”

Below is a practical, focused on the nurse, a guide to Dr. Harrison’s advice-built for the realities of the bed, clinic, school, public health program or virtual visit.

1) Recognize faster, act earlier

What has modified: today’s overdose often includes many substances – not only opioids. Fentanyl force implies that respiratory depression may be fast.

• Slowing down or irregular respiration
• Presidented students
• Unreactive or clearly reduced response

• Suppose Fentanyl may be present. Don’t wait for certainty.
• Serve the nokson immediately. Repetitive dosage is commonly mandatory; Re -evaluation ought to be continually made.
• Monitor rigorously after reversing. Resessed may occur – prepared to support ventilation and escalation of care in accordance with the protocol.

2) Make a teeth with a rescue (not finally)

Virtual care closes gaps for individuals who face transport challenges, stigma, unstable schedules or childcare barriers.

• Drug contact points: short, coherent adhesion to drugs and unwanted effects; Coordinates of laboratory cartridges and reminders.
• Therapeutic connection in front of the camera: The presence still matters. Release the pace, take into consideration your feelings and end each visit with one specific goal (“Let’s practice wearing nokson and show a loved one how to use it”).
• Reduce digital friction: offer low bandwidth options (if mandatory audio-first), confirm the private setting and set a backup plan if the connection drops.
• Normalize care: “In this way we visit a lot – it is convenient and private”, which helps patients feel respected than triance.

3) Lead a change in culture: from guilt to biology

The stigma stops people from care; Nurses can disassemble him inside just a few minutes.

• “A person with a substance use disorder” → not “addicted”
• “Return to use” → not “relapse”
• “Positive for fentanyl during screening” → not “dirty”
• “Keeping you safer” → not “switching on”

“Addiction is a chronic disease. You deserve the same respect and treatment based on the evidence that we offered on diabetes or asthma. Let’s make a plan together.”

4) skills to sharpen now

Dr. Harrison emphasizes 4 possibilities that each nurse can develop this yr.

• Motivational interviews (MI): Use open questions, affirmation, reflection and summaries. Try to recall the explanations for changing the patient.
• Care based on injury: assume that exposure to injury is common. In each interaction, prioritize your alternative, cooperation and transparency.
• Damage reduction: offer practical steps that reduce the danger – nalloxon punishment, don’t use alone, first test small amounts and know emergency characters.
• Drugs for addiction treatment (mat): be marked with the fundamentals of buprenorphin and naltrexone, expected effects, widespread misunderstandings and when to escalate for a lying team or care.

5) Equip your loved ones with information – and hope

Families are sometimes the primary respondents at home.

• Nalloxon all over the place. Teach where it’s stored whenever you use it and the way repetitive doses could also be mandatory.
• Crisis control list. Recognize slow respiration, inability to get up an individual and blue -thread mouth – aid you help, after which give Nalloxon, after which perform rescue respiration whether it is trained.
• Connection points. Share local support group options, treatment navigation resources and family education schemes to assist people find the very best available resources. Underline: Recovery is feasible and sometimes a non -linear process.

Fast tool set by August 31 (and later)

• Plants easy to cook Nokloxon and publish a one -page algorithm of the overdose response.
• Add a language box to your chart templates.
• Create an statement term of teeth (e.g. 15-minute virtual check-in 48-72 hours after ED discharge for overdose).

• Send patients home with take -out nokson, easy instructions and a family -friendly crisis plan.
• Plan your next contact point before leaving (virtual or personal).

• Cook up with local organizations to prepare short versions “How to use nalloxone”.
• Offer research without judgment at health fairs and mobile clinics; Normalize care with a transparent marking (“confidential help available here”).

• Treat what you see. If respiration is depressed, set – doesn’t wait for a toxicological result.
• Re -evaluation after naloxone; Overdose invisible by fentanyl often requires repetition of dosage and continuous statement.
• Small winnings are large. A single step directed by Mi (like consent to wearing nokson) is a very important success.
• Consistency builds trust. Short, reliable check-in-noise from virtual, or personally-out sporadic performers, long meetings.

Lower line

The risk of overdose has evolved, however the nursing response stays the identical in its core: to acknowledge early, act quickly, follow the evidence and use compassion. As emphasized by Dr. Nzing Harrison, when nurses mix fast clinical effects with care without stigma and revolutionary use of teo, we not only reverse overdose-we are overwhelming the trajectories.

On August 31, allow us to recommend the work of a nurse best: saving life, one respecting, directed at the identical time.