Synthesis of Drug Seeking, Research Paper Example

An article by Neville and Roan (2014) addresses the importance of nurses and their perceptions of caring in regards to patients with substance abuse and dependence. The comorbidity of these conditions is significant throughout society and requires nurses to be proactive in providing excellent care and treatment for their patients, along with a caring attitude and environment in which to recover (Neville & Roan, 2014). The use of a qualitative inductive method utilized a sample of 24 nurses in regards to this patient population, and it was determined that nurses recognize their ethical responsibility to these patients and the need for quality care under a variety of conditions, as well as expanded education for nurses in order to support this population in the desired manner that supports an ethically appropriate approach to care (Neville & Roan, 2014). However, the study noted that this process is very challenging and requires further consideration and evaluation in order to improve the nurse-patient relationship for this population group (Neville & Roan, 2014).

An article by McCaffery, Grimm, Pasero, Ferrell, and Uman (2005) addresses the importance of nurses’ understanding of drug seeking behavior and how to recognize it within a given patient population. Furthermore, the study distinguishes between different types of nurses and their attitudes towards patients who exhibit drug seeking behaviors, including emergency and pain management nurses (McCaffery et.al, 2005). Specific behaviors that nurses noted included visiting more than one emergency department to obtain opioids, lacking consistency in stories regarding prior pain medication history, and general manipulation (McCaffery et.al, 2005). A survey instrument for nurses addressed the importance of specific factors related to the term “drug seeking” and how it was used in everyday language, and it was determined that other alternatives are required to avoid stigmatizing behaviors related to opioid dependence or addiction (McCaffery et.al, 2005).

Synthesis of Articles

The articles that have been examined offer a unique approach to evaluating the different conditions under which nurses must possess adequate knowledge and resources regarding patients with opioid dependence and addiction. These articles represent a nurses’ point of view regarding this condition and the behaviors that nurses must exhibit towards these patients, including offering a caring environment and an ethically responsible approach to working with these patients. In addition, it is important to identify the issues that are most important to nurses when working with these patients and addressing their needs in an ethically responsible manner. Nurses must utilize evidence-based practice and other approaches in order to ensure that patients receive consistent and high quality care at all times, particularly when they possess comorbid opioid addiction and dependence. This condition is serious and requires nurses to adequately focus and improve their knowledge of this patient population in order to treat them effectively at all times.

Summarizing Versus Synthesizing Research

Summarizing articles related to specific research projects only requires the reader to identify the key points in these articles and to determine the most relevant concepts from the articles. This process enables a person who has not read the article to understand its primary objectives and critical points. On the other hand, synthesizing research typically requires an evaluation of specific projects from an analytical perspective and to determine how the research might contribute to new ideas and approaches to address clinical problems that nurses face throughout their careers. This type of analysis will support a new strategy to ensure that prior evidence is used wisely to promote the necessary outcomes.

References

McCaffery, M., Grimm, M.A., Pasero, C., Ferrell, B., Uman, G.C. (2005). On the meaning of “drug seeking.” Pain Management Nursing, 6(4), 122-136.

Neville, K., & Roan, N. (2014). Challenges in nursing practice: nurses’ perceptions in caring for hospitalized medical-surgical patients with substance abuse/dependence. The Journal of Nursing Administration, 44(6), 339-346.