The Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) has developed "Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment" (SBIRT), an alcohol screening and intervention toolkit. During the admission process, every patient who enters the emergency medical care system is a candidate for screening. Because patients in trauma centers are more likely to self-disclose alcohol abuse than those in primary settings, ED visits are "teachable moments" when healthcare workers can detect alcohol problems and motivate behavior change. Mild- to moderate-alcoholic patients who receive counseling in the ED are nearly twice as likely to maintain long-term moderation of their drinking than those who are not given such assistance.

Initial screening should be used to determine the best therapy, ranging from a 5- to 15-minute intervention to referral to an alcohol treatment program. ED interventions create a link between injury and drinking and often prevent progression to more serious alcohol dependency. According to 2008 ENA President Denise King, RN, MSN, CEN, "Fewer alcohol and substance related patients means shorter waits, reduced staff workloads, safer emergency departments, and a safer community as a whole."

With nearly half of all trauma beds occupied by patients who were injured while under the influence of alcohol, the SBIRT procedure can be implemented by traveling nurses to improve the delivery of quality care. ENA has distributed SBIRT toolkits, which qualify for reimbursement, to hospitals across the U.S. For more details, visit http://www.ena.org/ipinstitute/SBIRT/default.asp.

Legislative Corner

ANA lobbies for Registered Nurse Safe Staffing Act

The American Nurses Association (ANA) continues to strengthen its "Safe Staffing Saves Lives" national campaign to lobby for safe staffing laws, particularly the Registered Nurse Safe Staffing Act (S. 73/H.R. 4138). Under this legislation, hospitals would be held accountable for establishing reliable, unit-level nurse staffing plans in consultation with practicing RNs. ANA released results from a survey of over 10,000 RNs, which indicates that 73% of nurses don't believe the staffing on their unit is sufficient, 60% of respondents know someone who left direct care nursing because of safe staffing concerns, and 36% of participants rarely or never take a full meal break. To contribute helpful data, participate in a survey, or share your story, go to http://www.SafeStaffingSavesLives.org/.

Did You Know...

Dr. Beach's top 10 beaches in the U.S. for 2008 are:

1. Caladesi Island State Park, Dunedin/Clearwater, FL

2. Hanalei Beach, Kauai, HI

3. Siesta Beach, Sarasota, FL

4. Coopers Beach, Southampton, NY

5. Coronado Beach, San Diego, CA

6. Main Beach, East Hampton, NY

7. Hamoa Beach, Maui, HI

8. Cape Hatteras, Outer Banks, NC

9. Cape Florida State Park, Key Biscayne, FL

10. Beachwalker Park, Kiawah Island, SC

Source: http://DrBeach.org/. (n.d.). America's best beaches 2008. Retrieved June 4, 2008, from http://www.drbeach.org/drbeach/best_beach_list_2008.htm