Alcohol withdrawal syndrome

knowledge and nursing care at a clinical surgery unit at a general hospital

Abstract

Objective: to investigate the nursing team’s knowledge about alcohol withdrawal syndrome and to describe the care provided by this team to people with alcohol withdrawal symptoms admitted
to the surgical clinic. Method: descriptive and qualitative study. Twenty-two nursing professionals who worked in the surgical clinic of a general hospital answered a semi-structured interview that was recorded and later transcribed. Content analysis and thematic analysis were used to analyze the data. Results: the following categories were identified: “Knowldge of the Nursing Team on the alcoholic withdrawal syndrome” and “Care provided by the nursing team to persons with alcoholic withdrawal syndrome”. The nursing team recognizes the signs and symptoms of alcohol withdrawal syndrome, but does not differentiate them into organic and psychic. Priority is given to mechanical containment associated with pharmacotherapy in the provision of care. Conclusion: it is recommended to sensitize and qualify the nursing teams for an assistance based on the real needs of people with alcohol withdrawal syndrome is a challenge to be overcome to offer greater safety in the surgical process.