CARN Patient Assessment and Diagnosis 4

Question 1

A nurse is conducting a comprehensive addiction assessment and asks about the patient's first use, age of onset, and escalation pattern. This information primarily helps determine:

Accepted Answer

Chronicity, developmental impact, and disease progression

Answer

Establishing onset age and use trajectory informs the chronicity of the disorder, developmental consequences, and appropriate treatment intensity.

Question 2

Which finding during an opioid withdrawal assessment using the COWS scale indicates severe withdrawal and warrants aggressive pharmacological management?

Accepted Answer

COWS score of 36 or above

Answer

A COWS score of 36 or above indicates severe opioid withdrawal requiring immediate and aggressive treatment intervention.

Question 3

During intake assessment, a patient reports using alcohol daily to prevent morning shakes. This pattern is best described as:

Accepted Answer

Physical dependence with use to avoid withdrawal symptoms

Answer

Using alcohol specifically to prevent withdrawal symptoms (shakes) indicates physical dependence and is a key diagnostic criterion for alcohol use disorder.

Question 4

A nurse assesses a patient for nicotine dependence using the Fagerström Test. The most critical item predicting dependence severity is:

Accepted Answer

Whether the patient smokes within 30 minutes of waking

Answer

Time to first cigarette after waking is the strongest predictor of nicotine dependence severity on the Fagerström scale.

Question 5

An assessment reveals that a patient uses substances primarily in social situations and when anxious. This finding suggests the nurse should screen for:

Accepted Answer

Co-occurring anxiety disorder and SUD

Answer

Situational use linked to anxiety is a classic presentation of self-medication, warranting dual diagnosis screening for anxiety disorders co-occurring with SUD.

(CARN) Certified Addictions Registered Nurse Practice Test

(CARN) Certified Addictions Registered Nurse Practice Test

CARN Patient Assessment and Diagnosis 4