Dahlem Chin Hwa Y, Horstman Molly J, Williams Brent C
School of Nursing, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness, and Safety (IQuESt), Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Section of General Internal Medicine and Section of Health Services Research, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.
J Am Assoc Nurse Pract. 2016 Jan;28(1):11-8. doi: 10.1002/2327-6924.12249. Epub 2015 Mar 26.
To describe the development, implementation, and preliminary evaluation of Opioid Overdose Response Protocol using intranasal (IN) naloxone in a homeless shelter.
Opioid Overdose Response Protocol and training curriculum were developed using the Massachusetts Department of Public Health Opioid Overdose Education and Naloxone Distribution (OEND) flow chart, the American Heart Association (AHA) simplified adult basic life support algorithm, and resources through Harms Reduction Coalition.
Intranasal naloxone offers a safe and effective method for opioid reversal. To combat the rising incidence of opioid overdose, IN naloxone should be made available at homeless shelters and other facilities with high frequency of opioid overdose, including the training of appropriate staff. This project has demonstrated the effective training and implementation of an Opioid Overdose Response Protocol, based on feedback received from cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) trained nonhealthcare staff. Nurse practitioners (NPs), with our focus on patient care, prevention, and education, are well suited to the deployment of this life-saving protocol.
NPs are in critical positions to integrate opioid overdose prevention education and provide naloxone rescue kits in clinical practices.
