Week 10: Harm Reduction Flashcards
A nurse is working with a patient who has a history of substance use disorder and is experiencing stigma in healthcare settings. According to the findings in Murney et al. (2020), which approach should the nurse prioritize to improve the patient’s experience of care?
A. Implement strict guidelines for patient interactions to reduce personal biases.
B. Focus on educating the patient about mental health and substance use disorders.
C. Build a non-judgmental and supportive relationship by acknowledging the patient’s experiences of stigma.
D. Avoid discussing the patient’s substance use issues to prevent further stigmatization.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Murney et al. (2020) suggest that healthcare providers should create supportive, non-judgmental environments to improve patients’ experiences and reduce stigma associated with mental health and substance use disorders.
In a community health setting, a nurse is implementing harm reduction strategies for individuals at risk of opioid overdose. Based on Strike and Watson (2019), which intervention would be most effective in reducing immediate harm during the opioid overdose crisis?
A. Encouraging patients to cease all substance use immediately.
B. Distributing naloxone kits and providing training on their use.
C. Encouraging patients to seek detoxification services in a hospital setting.
D. Recommending psychological counseling to address underlying issues of substance use.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Strike and Watson (2019) emphasize the importance of harm reduction interventions such as distributing naloxone kits to prevent deaths due to opioid overdose, as part of a comprehensive response to the crisis.
A nurse is conducting a group session with individuals who have a history of mental health and substance use issues. According to Murney et al. (2020), which of the following strategies should the nurse use to minimize stigma within the group?
A. Focus on treatment compliance as the most important aspect of recovery.
B. Normalize the group’s experiences by encouraging shared personal stories of discrimination.
C. Discourage any discussions of past substance use to avoid reinforcing stigma.
D. Provide specific, corrective feedback on individuals’ behavior and progress throughout the session.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Murney et al. (2020) highlight the importance of normalizing individuals’ experiences with stigma by fostering an open environment where group members can share personal stories without fear of judgment.
A nurse is advocating for policy changes to address opioid overdose in Canada, based on the recommendations from Strike and Watson (2019). Which policy change would best support harm reduction initiatives in the community?
A. Limiting the availability of opioid prescriptions to prevent abuse.
B. Expanding access to supervised injection sites and safe consumption rooms.
C. Increasing the criminal penalties for opioid possession to deter usage.
D. Promoting abstinence-based rehabilitation programs as the primary treatment option.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Strike and Watson (2019) advocate for expanding harm reduction programs, including supervised injection sites, as effective strategies for addressing the opioid overdose crisis.
In a primary healthcare setting, a nurse is addressing the challenges of stigma and discrimination faced by patients with substance use disorders. Based on Murney et al. (2020), which action would best help reduce stigma in the healthcare environment?
A. Educating patients about the negative consequences of substance use to reinforce health promotion.
B. Limiting patient care to medical needs only, avoiding personal discussions about substance use.
C. Enforcing strict policies to ensure that substance use patients are treated separately from others.
D. Actively listening and empathizing with patients’ experiences without making judgments.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Murney et al. (2020) suggest that reducing stigma requires empathy and active listening to patients’ experiences, which helps build trust and foster an inclusive environment.
A nurse is caring for a patient with opioid use disorder who is receiving treatment in a harm reduction program. According to Strike and Watson (2019), which of the following outcomes would best indicate that harm reduction interventions are effective for this patient?
A. The patient discontinues all opioid use within the first month of treatment.
B. The patient reports a decrease in opioid-related harm, such as fewer overdose incidents.
C. The patient expresses a strong commitment to abstaining from opioid use for life.
D. The patient experiences an increase in mental health symptoms related to substance use.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Strike and Watson (2019) highlight that effective harm reduction strategies focus on reducing the harm associated with opioid use, such as fewer overdose incidents or other health complications, rather than solely focusing on complete abstinence.
A nurse is working with a patient who has been stigmatized for both mental health and substance use issues in a primary healthcare setting. Based on Murney et al. (2020), which of the following interventions should the nurse prioritize to promote a more inclusive and supportive environment?
A. Limit discussions of the patient’s substance use to avoid reinforcing stigma.
B. Treat the patient as a whole person and acknowledge the impact of stigma on their care.
C. Offer only pharmacological interventions to address the patient’s mental health needs.
D. Use medical terminology when discussing mental health and substance use to maintain professionalism.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Murney et al. (2020) suggest that addressing the impact of stigma and providing holistic care that recognizes the individual’s mental health and substance use issues can help create a more inclusive and supportive healthcare environment.
A nurse is working with a community health team to improve care for individuals with substance use issues in an area experiencing high rates of opioid overdoses. According to Strike and Watson (2019), which strategy should the nurse prioritize to reduce overdose deaths in the community?
A. Increase the availability of opioid prescription medications for pain management.
B. Expand access to harm reduction resources, such as supervised consumption sites.
C. Educate the community about the dangers of drug use and the importance of abstinence.
D. Focus on increasing law enforcement efforts to target illicit drug trafficking.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Strike and Watson (2019) emphasize that expanding access to harm reduction resources, such as supervised consumption sites, is an effective strategy to reduce overdose deaths in areas heavily affected by the opioid crisis.
A nurse is preparing a presentation for healthcare providers on the stigma associated with mental health and substance use disorders in primary care settings, based on Murney et al. (2020). Which of the following recommendations should the nurse emphasize to reduce stigma in healthcare environments?
A. Promote a zero-tolerance policy for any substance use among patients in the clinic.
B. Create training programs for staff to increase awareness of how stigma impacts patient care.
C. Limit care to only those patients who are actively seeking treatment for substance use issues.
D. Encourage patients to hide their substance use history during medical assessments to avoid judgment.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Murney et al. (2020) suggest that training healthcare providers to understand the impact of stigma can increase empathy and improve the quality of care for patients with mental health and substance use issues.
A nurse is conducting a health assessment for a patient who reports a history of opioid use disorder and has been recently discharged from a supervised injection site. Based on Strike and Watson (2019), which of the following should the nurse focus on during the assessment to ensure ongoing harm reduction?
A. The patient’s complete abstinence from opioids and commitment to recovery.
B. Assessing for current opioid use and providing resources for immediate detoxification.
C. Evaluating the patient’s level of risk for overdose and offering resources to reduce harm.
D. Focusing solely on the patient’s physical health and avoiding discussions of substance use.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Strike and Watson (2019) emphasize the importance of assessing the patient’s risk for overdose and providing ongoing harm reduction strategies, such as access to naloxone kits or supervised consumption resources, to reduce the potential for harm.
A nurse is caring for a patient with a history of opioid use disorder who is enrolled in a Safer Supply Program. The patient is showing signs of reduced opioid use. Based on the principles of harm reduction, which of the following outcomes best reflects the success of the program?
A. The patient has completely ceased all drug use.
B. The patient reports a reduction in opioid-related health complications.
C. The patient’s mental health symptoms have completely resolved.
D. The patient is not interested in any further care or support.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Harm reduction focuses on reducing the harm associated with substance use, such as health complications or overdose incidents, rather than demanding complete abstinence.
A nurse is educating a community group on harm reduction in healthcare. Which statement by the nurse best reflects the core principles of harm reduction?
A. “Harm reduction is about stopping substance use entirely.”
B. “We should only treat individuals who are ready to quit using substances.”
C. “Harm reduction focuses on minimizing health risks and accepting substance use as a part of life for some people.”
D. “Harm reduction involves punitive measures for individuals who do not follow treatment protocols.”
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Harm reduction recognizes that substance use may be a long-term issue for some individuals and emphasizes minimizing health risks associated with use.
A nurse is working with a patient who uses substances and is experiencing stigma in healthcare settings. Which of the following actions is the most effective for reducing stigma in the care of the patient?
A. Avoid discussing substance use to prevent judgment.
B. Use language that dehumanizes the patient to emphasize their condition.
C. Treat the patient with dignity and respect while addressing both their health and substance use.
D. Isolate the patient from other patients to avoid disruption.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Treating patients with dignity and respect and addressing their health and substance use together is key to reducing stigma and providing effective care.
A nurse is planning an intervention for a patient in a harm reduction program. According to harm reduction principles, which intervention should the nurse prioritize to support the patient’s health?
A. Encourage the patient to stop all substance use immediately.
B. Provide the patient with resources for managing substance use and its health consequences.
C. Offer only mental health treatment to address the patient’s issues.
D. Focus solely on substance use treatment, ignoring the patient’s physical health needs.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Harm reduction involves addressing both substance use and its health consequences, providing resources to manage risks while allowing the patient to maintain control over their use.
A nurse is working in a hospital with a harm reduction program that includes safe consumption sites. Which of the following is the primary benefit of this service in the hospital setting?
A. Encourages complete abstinence from substance use.
B. Reduces overdose deaths by providing a safe environment for substance use.
C. Increases the likelihood of criminal charges for individuals who use substances.
D. Forces patients to discontinue substance use before receiving care.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Safe consumption sites in harm reduction programs help reduce overdose deaths by providing a safe, supervised environment for individuals to use substances.
