NSG 6999 Week 2 Discussion Question
NSG 6999 Week 2 Discussion Question
Post your
background question and your strategy for getting a comprehensive understanding
of the clinical issue. Your background question will lead you to your
foreground or PICOT question–so it is an important piece of the project!
NSG 6999 Week 2 Discussion Question
As you work
on your capstone project proposal, you will want to share your progress with
your peers and instructor and seek or provide guidance or share insights. By
the due date assigned, go to the Discussion Area and post responses to the
discussion question. All responses should be posted to the appropriate topic in
this Discussion Area. It is important to support what you say with relevant
citations in the APA format from both the course materials and outside
resources. Include the South University online library in your research
activities utilizing not only the nursing resource database, but also those
pertaining to education, business, and human resources.
Reducing client attrition during treatment must be a priority for IOT providers. Compared with clients who drop out, those who are retained in outpatient treatment tend to be White, male, and employed (McCaul et al. 2001). Client attributes associated with higher dropout rates are labeled “red flags” by White and colleagues (1998); these red flags include marginalized status (e.g., racial minorities, people who are economically disadvantaged), lack of a professional skill, recent hospitalization, and family history of substance abuse. Being aware of these red flags can help clinicians intervene early to assist clients at increased risk of dropping out. Veach and colleagues (2000) found that clients who abuse alcohol were more likely to be retained and those who abuse cocaine were less likely to be retained in outpatient treatment. Other studies have found that the substance a client abuses is not a good predictor of retention (McCaul et al. 2001).
The following strategies improve retention of clients in treatment:
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Form a working relationship with the client. The counselor should foster a respectful and understanding relationship with the client. This therapeutic relationship reduces resistance and successfully engages the client in working toward mutually defined treatment goals.
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Learn the client’s treatment history. If the client has dropped out of treatment previously, the counselor should find out why. If the client has engaged and been retained successfully in treatment before, the counselor should ask what made treatment appealing.
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Use motivational interviewing. The counselor should help clients work through ambivalence by supporting their efforts to change and helping them identify discrepancies between their goals and values and their substance use. Involving clients in activities, such as support groups, also is effective.
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Provide flexible schedules. IOT providers need to consider the client populations they serve and schedule groups accordingly. For example, morning groups can be for clients who work swing and night shifts and for women with school-age children and evening groups for those working regular business hours. It can be difficult for clients to fit many hours of treatment into their week.