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Dissertation Chapter-Discussion, Nursing, Pages: 4

Reduction of Prescription Drug Abuse

Reduction of Prescription Drug Abuse

Strategic management in healthcare is vital for aligning operations with organizational goals, particularly in addressing prescription drug abuse, which significantly undermines patient safety and strains resources. This issue affects healthcare providers, patients, and the healthcare system at large, with approximately 10% of healthcare staff potentially misusing substances. The impact of prescription drug abuse extends beyond individuals, compromising care quality and increasing costs. This strategic plan proposes targeted interventions to reduce the incidence of prescription drug abuse through evidence-based practices and strong nursing leadership. By fostering a culture of safety and accountability, the plan aims to enhance patient care quality and establish sustainable improvements within healthcare environments.

Background Discussion

Prescription drug abuse within healthcare settings poses a significant threat to patient safety and operational efficiency. The abuse rates in the healthcare setting are comparable to that of the general population, which indicates that possibly 10% of the healthcare staff could be problematic substance users (Bernstein et al., 2020). This problem has cultural aspects inherent in healthcare organizations. Thus, it is crucial to describe the nature of this issue.

One major factor influencing prescription drug abuse is the high-stress environment in which healthcare professionals operate. Notably, due to the high levels of stress experienced in the healthcare profession, staff develop burnout and emotional exhaustion, leading them to resort to the wrong use of medications (Jalali et al., 2020). Also, in their systematic review and meta-analysis, Hodkinson et al. (2020) revealed that preventable medication harm across different healthcare contexts results from poor surveillance of prescription practice that, in turn, escalates drug abuse.

Another contributing element is insufficient education regarding the risks associated with prescription drug dependency among healthcare workers. Some workers might not give much thought to the essence of this drug use, which, in turn, causes them to underestimate the likelihood of becoming addicted (Mayo Clinic, 2022). In addition, a lack of strong enforcement measures for the management of drugs in and out of the health facility makes it easier for drug abuse to take root.

Strategic planning aimed at addressing prescription drug abuse requires a comprehensive approach that aligns with the broader objectives of healthcare organizations. Applying project management principles, one must set objectives for such initiatives, define all the actors participating in the process, and provide clear definitions of the performance indicators. To this end, this structured developmental model helps guarantee that interventions are strategic, empirically driven, and responsive to the circumstances that define healthcare organizations.

By integrating findings from the literature, including the systematic review by Hodkinson et al. (2020) and the contextual framework presented by Jalali et al. (2020), the strategic plan will be grounded in proven methodologies. Moreover, the perception of the symptoms and potential causes of prescription drug abuse, as presented by the Mayo Clinic (2022), is important to inform educational intervention efforts to decrease prescription drug misuse among physicians. Combined, they provide depth and bolster the weaknesses in the strategic elements that promote the ability to implement the anti-prescription drug abuse plan successfully.

Stakeholders

Effective stakeholder mapping and management are crucial for the successful implementation of change management strategies, particularly in addressing prescription drug abuse in healthcare facilities. The main stakeholders include healthcare practitioners, nurses, pharmacists, patients, regulatory authorities, and the management of healthcare facilities. Doctors and certified registered nurse practitioners are some of the most influential healthcare givers when it comes to the prescription of drugs, and they need to be more involved in the fight against prescription drug misuse as it has the potential to cause more harm than good. They are useful in ensuring that the patients take the right medicines and scheduling them for check on signs of substance dependence. Second, nursing staff who are supposed to supervise medication use directly can be employed perfectly in developing supervision tools to deal with the vice. Third, pharmacy personnel also act proactively by trend analysis of prescription volumes and identifying patients who may be abusing the prescriptions. Other duties include sensitizing both the patient and the workers in health facilities on the safe use of drugs.

Fourth, patients are direct stakeholders who must be informed about the risks associated with prescription drugs, emphasizing that these medications should only be used under appropriate guidance. Fifth, state boards of Pharmacy, such as the State of Kansas Board of Pharmacy and the Drug Enforcement Administration, are standards setters and enforcers of laws pertaining to the Control of drug substances and raising awareness of prescription drug abuse. Furthermore, the project preceptor will be responsible for administrating and coordinating the project while ensuring its alignment with organizational goals and objectives. Lastly, the management at the healthcare facility will be important in spearheading the plight and offering support in the fight against prescription drug abuse.

Outcome Statement and Evaluation Plan

To effectively achieve the outcome of reducing prescription drug abuse by 30% within eight weeks, a comprehensive action plan will be implemented. First, measures would be taken to ensure proper prescription so that the number of drugs given to a patient can be regulated. These guidelines will reduce instances of risky medications and will necessitate referral for any prescription whose dosage or length of use is beyond standard recommendations. The current monitoring system will guarantee that every prescription goes through a check to determine the need for the recipe and other medical protocols.

Second, prioritizing staff education and training is crucial. Information and educational sessions will be conducted among the enrolled and registered nurses, pharmacists, and assistants in order to increase awareness of risks connected with prescription drug dependence and indicators of prescription drug dependence (Jaam et al., 2021). Furthermore, biweekly training sessions will be conducted over the eight-week period to remind the staff of the details of the best practices. This information will also be given to patients in the form of handouts to sensitize them on the proper usage of the drugs and the risks associated with polydrug use.

Finally, an improvement in the efficiency of monitoring and reporting processes shall be achieved. Computerized tracking systems will be developed in a bid to keep track of prescription drugs in the facility to pick cases of misuse. An “organized whistle policy” will allow staff to consider reporting disciplinary/immoral activities regarding prescription drugs. The prescription record will be audited frequently to ensure compliance with the new standards introduced. The assessment of this intervention will involve quantitative and qualitative methods to determine the program’s success rate in reducing prescription drug abuse incidents. Prior to the intervention, an initial self-report survey will be employed to document the rate of prescription-related adverse occurrences, and this survey will be completed after the intervention has been deployed to determine the rate of these occurrences after the intervention. The baseline data will be collected before the intervention begins, and concurrently, the assessment will continue until the end of the eight weeks. Measures of progress will be based on incident rates, staff compliance with new rules, and patients’ perceived satisfaction with educational resources. A subsequent assessment will be done three months after the intervention to determine the continuing effectiveness of the results and to make changes to the applied procedures and educational courses if needed.

Conclusion

The strategic initiative targeting prescription drug abuse in healthcare settings is meant to increase patient safety as well as the quality of care services. Accordingly, the plan focuses on reducing the incidence by 30% within eight weeks through strict implementation of the prescribing protocols, staff training, and monitoring. Such a selective strategy targets both emergent threats connected with prescription abuse and develops a viable model for constantly enhanced prescribing processes. Finally, successful implementation of this approach will create a better understanding of accountability and safety among healthcare professionals and pave the way for other initiatives within the healthcare industry.

References

Bernstein, S. L., Weiss, J., & Curry, L. (2020). Visualizing implementation: Contextual and organizational support mapping of stakeholders (COSMOS). Implementation Science Communications, 1(1). NCBI. https://doi.org/10.1186/s43058-020-00030-8

Hodkinson, A., Tyler, N., Ashcroft, D. M., Keers, R. N., Khan, K., Phipps, D., Abuzour, A., Bower, P., Avery, A., Campbell, S., & Panagioti, M. (2020). Preventable medication harm across health care settings: A systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Medicine, 18(1), 313. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-020-01774-9

Jaam, M., Naseralallah, L. M., Hussain, T. A., & Pawluk, S. A. (2021). Pharmacist-led educational interventions provided to healthcare providers to reduce medication errors: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLOS ONE, 16(6), e0253588. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0253588

Jalali, M. S., Botticelli, M., Hwang, R. C., Koh, H. K., & McHugh, R. K. (2020). The opioid crisis: A contextual, social-ecological framework. Health Research Policy and Systems, 18(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12961-020-00596-8

Mayo Clinic. (2022, October 25). Prescription drug abuse – Symptoms and causes. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/prescription-drug-abuse/symptoms-causes/syc-20376813

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Question 

Getting Started

Strategic management begins with a planning process and culminates with implementation and ongoing evaluation of a strategic approach driven by the organization’s mission and vision.  The strategic plan is a “blueprint” or framework for executing business and future directions for the work of an organization.

Nurse leaders and managers use strategic planning to guide their decision making.  Strategic planning helps nurses allocate necessary resources to critical activities necessary to meet organization goals and achieve a vision.  Nurse leaders formulate the policies and procedures that support the plan and effectively meet performance outcome measures.

In this paper, you will identify the early components of a strategic plan and apply this to a proposed change initiative in a healthcare environment.  It is important to save this assignment for reference, as the strategic plan you develop in this course may be considered for implementation as your practicum work in the NUR 495 capstone course.  In the capstone course, you will engage in an exciting adventure in which you will manage the dynamics of strategic planning to initiate a change process in a healthcare setting that can be actually measured to show an improvement to an existing problem.  You will incorporate the knowledge you garner in this course and other courses as you plan and manage a planned change field-based project within the scope of your current professional role.

Upon successful completion of the course material, you will be able to:

  • Develop a strategic plan for a proposed change in a nursing environment.

    Reduction of Prescription Drug Abuse

    Reduction of Prescription Drug Abuse

Resources

Background Information

In the last course of the RN-BSN program (NUR 495: Baccalaureate Capstone: Synthesis and Evaluation), you will assume a leadership role in coordinating and managing a capstone project by integrating evidence based practice and the strategic planning process.  The work completed in this course will be linked with your NUR 495 capstone project.  You will consider the dynamics and management of individuals, groups, and organizational behavior in the implementation of a planned change initiative within healthcare environment.  This project will provide you with the opportunity to apply leadership and management skills learned throughout the courses in your IWU School of Nursing program.

This week, you will identify a problem or need in a nursing environment which can serve as the focus of a strategic plan.  As you ponder an initiative for the strategic plan paper assignment, consider using this as the foundation of your capstone project.  Give special consideration to the scope and basis of the identified problem or need with your rationale clearly supported by current literature.  In this genesis of strategic planning, you will critically reflect on the initial steps that are essential for planning change, stakeholders, and the evaluation process that measures your stated outcome.

Instructions

  1. In your textbook Leading and Managing in Nursing, read Chapter 30, “The Strategic Planning Process.”
  2. In your textbook Fundamentals of Project Management, read:
    1. Chapter 1, “An Overview of Project Management”
    2. Chapter 2, “The Role of the Project Manager”
    3. Chapter 3, “Incorporating Stakeholder Management in the Project Planning Process”
    4. Chapter 4, “Planning the Project”
    5. Chapter 5, “Developing a Mission, Vision, Goals, and Objectives for the Project”
  3. View the presentation Strategic Planning for Change.pptx.
  4. Download and review the Strategic Plan Resource 2021.docx file.
  5. Identify a specific problem or need to serve as the basis for a strategic plan (Reduction of prescription drug abuse). The actual need that you identify could be related to process improvement, patient safety, quality service, effective workflow, or ongoing education to address a knowledge deficit. The project must be patient-centered and must have a measurable outcome. The scope of the strategic plan should be such that it can be accomplished within an 8-week period of time and serve as a future capstone project in your final course. It is recommended that you interview formal and informal leaders in your chosen healthcare environment to assess for needs or problems that would benefit from a change initiative that might fall within your scope of practice and the assigned capstone time frame.
  6. Use the APA template to write a 3-4 page strategic plan paper that meets the following criteria:
    1. Use APA level I headings to organize the components (Background Discussion, Stakeholders, Outcome Statement and Evaluation Plan, and Conclusion) of your written paper.
    2. Introduce your proposed plan for change to a current situation in a healthcare setting in your introductory paragraph. A clear problem statement should be included in this initial paragraph.
    3. Background Discussion: Give background information that describes circumstances and factors that influence the existing problem or need. Discuss how your proposed plan will bring effective change or improvement to the chosen healthcare setting. In this background discussion, a minimum of three sources from current and scholarly literature that support evidence-based practice should be integrated to validate and provide rationale for your strategic plan.
    4. Stakeholders: In this section, you will identify all of the stakeholders who will be potentially involved or will be impacted by your plan. A brief identification of those stakeholders, along with a succinct description of their role and interest in the plan should be discussed. You should include your chosen project facilitator (preceptor) and the facility where your change initiative will be implemented in this stakeholder discussion.
    5. Outcome Statement and Evaluation Plan: In this section, you will begin with a well-written outcome statement (SMART goal). Then, briefly describe an action plan that might be implemented to achieve this outcome. You will also describe an evaluation plan that specifically corresponds to the outcome statement. You will discuss any data that will be collected and analyzed in order to measure the achievement of the stated SMART goal (outcome). This section will describe the process that will be used to evaluate the success of your proposed change.
    6. Conclusion: Summarize the benefits that this change initiative will have on the chosen healthcare setting. Briefly describe the long-term and future impact of this proposed change initiative.
  7. Proofread your paper for grammar, spelling, and APA errors. Use the Grammarly tool if that is beneficial to you. Here is the link that explains the use of the Grammarly tool.  Remember, the Grammarly tool does not have your nursing knowledge. Some suggestions or comments may not be accurate, but it is useful as a general tool to assist with improving your writing style as needed.
  8. When you have completed your assignment, proofread carefully and save a copy for yourself. Submit a copy to your instructor using the 6.3 Assignment submission page by the end of the workshop. (Turnitin enabled)