Neurology therapist role within the Alcohol Specialist Nurse Service . Megan was offered her first occupational therapist job as a veterans alcohol specialist occupational therapist in September 2021 .
‘ I have been working within the service ever since and I am enjoying every minute of it ,’ she says excitedly .
‘ Megan was able to investigate the use of occupational therapy within this service and begin to explore how the unique role of an occupational therapist could enhance patient recovery ,’ says Sandra .
‘ Sue was creative with her job vacancy within the ASNS by opening the post out to allied health professionals ,’ she adds . ‘ This generated interest from within the trust as to how the role could become a reality .’
Sandra concludes : ‘ I would always support other therapists to be aware of the impact of alcohol on patients and how they can help individuals with education through brief interventions . Being able to talk and share knowledge around assessment of cognition within function and help the sign posting onto other services .
‘ Some of my patients had welcomed the opportunity to talk more about the effects of alcohol and their new brain injury and explore other options around lifestyle choices . This is not done in isolation , but part of a team approach within alcohol nurse team and linking with the ASNS here at the hospital .’
Words Sandra Treloar , Band Six Occupational Therapist , Acute Neurology , Queen Alexandra Hospital , Sandra . treloar @ porthosp . nhs . uk and Megan Dudziak , Band Six Veterans Alcohol Specialist Occupational Therapist and former occupational therapy student at University of Brighton
Alcohol Specialist Nurse Service
Queen Alexandra Hospital ’ s Alcohol Specialist Nurse Service ( ASNS ) consists of a team of six band six alcohol specialist nurses , an alcohol specialist healthcare support worker , two administrators and a senior sister , Susan Atkins , who created the service 12 years ago and has been leading the service since .
The service covers the whole hospital and is delivered seven days a week , 365 days a year , between the hours of 8am and 4pm .
The nurses deliver an outpatient clinic detox regime , along with working with inpatients within the hospital . This includes prescribing medication and monitoring and supporting alcohol withdrawal symptoms daily for seven days , then weekly for two weeks after .
The healthcare support worker provides additional support for the patient during their detox regime , with any required washing and dressing needs , emotional health support and activities to enhance quality of life during their hospital stay .
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April 2022 OTnews 19