21 Safe drinking
Matter for discussion submitted by the RCN Health Visitors and Public Health Forum
That this meeting of RCN Congress discusses the nurse's role in promoting safe and responsible alcohol use
Work led by the RCN Nursing Development Committee.
Following Congress 2008, a presentation was made to the Nursing Development Committee by Dr Carolyn Mason, Head of Professional Development Northern Ireland, and Gary Doherty Ward Manager Shaftesbury Sq Addictions Hospital Northern Ireland. This demonstrated the effectiveness of an alcohol liaison nurse at the Mater Hospital Belfast. NDC agreed to support a UK wide project that would demonstrate the effectiveness of nurse led interventions for people with alcohol problems.
The Alcohol Project Group has produced a business case - containing clear evidence of the effectiveness of specialist alcohol nurses in improving the care of people with alcohol problems - which can by used by anyone seeking to improve services by increasing expert nursing input, for example by introducing or developing specialist alcohol nursing services. The target audience includes health and social care commissioners and policy makers and the information is offered as a framework that can be lifted, drawn upon or adapted to specific situations with the overall aim of improving the life chances of people who misuse alcohol. An article for publication about the business case has been accepted by Nursing Standard, and should be in print by Congress 2009.
In parallel, a new learning resource Alcohol and Minimal Interventions has been developed to assist members in developing skills for effective intervention and is now available on the RCN Learning Zone. The resource offers brief, evidence-based interventions for individuals who are concerned about their alcohol consumption. Involving screening, a short assessment and intervention, the process utilises a motivational interviewing technique that enables clients to consider and act upon choices that promote health. A short feature on this new resource, entitled Web tool to tackle alcohol misuse, appeared in the Nursing Times on 12 August 2008.