Abstract

Background and Review of Literature: Alcohol dependence is a problem nationwide and is often underreported by patients in a healthcare setting. People who suffer from alcohol dependence are likely to experience alcohol withdrawal if they suddenly cease alcohol consumption. The Prediction of Alcohol Withdrawal Severity Scale (PAWSS) is a tool which can identify a patient at risk for alcohol withdrawal. Purpose: The purpose of the project was to screen patients being admitted from the emergency department utilizing PAWSS to identify those at risk for alcohol withdrawal.

Methods: The scores would then be examined within a retrospective chart review on patients screened to determine validity and reliability of the tool.

Implementation Plan/Procedure: The project was not implemented due to safety concerns during a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic. Had implementation occurred, this quality improvement project could have potentially contributed to a decreased the incidence of acute alcohol withdrawal in hospitalized patients.

Implications/Conclusion: Protection of healthcare workers and patients was priority over a research project during the current time period. The project could be replicated for future use at a more appropriate time.

Author Details

Jacqueline Ellison, DNP(c), BSN, RN

Sigma Membership

Tau Tau, Theta Gamma at-Large

Lead Author Affiliation

Nebraska Methodist College, Omaha, Nebraska, USA

Type

DNP Capstone Project

Format Type

Text-based Document

Study Design/Type

Quality Improvement

Research Approach

N/A

Keywords:

Alcohol Withdrawal, Alcohol Withdrawal Prediction, Emergency Department, Emergency Room, Prediction of Alcohol Withdrawal Severity Scale, PAWSS

Advisor

Dunsmore, Sarah

Degree

DNP

Degree Grantor

Nebraska Methodist College

Degree Year

2020

Rights Holder

All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record.

All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository.

All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.

Review Type

Faculty Approved: Degree-based Submission

Acquisition

Self-submission

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