Vascular nurse as a smoking cessation specialist.
Cigarette smoking is a leading cause of disease and preventable death in the United States and is a major contributing factor to the development and progression of peripheral arterial disease. Vascular risk decreases immediately after smoking cessation and within 5-10 years reaches a level almost equivalent to that in nonsmokers. Despite the strong emphasis on smoking cessation, relapse frequently occurs. Smoking relapse is affected by physiologic and psychosocial factors. As a smoking cessation specialist, the vascular nurse can incorporate pharmacologic therapies and behavioral counseling into the treatment plan for patients with peripheral arterial disease. The role of a smoking cessation specialist enables the vascular nurse to assist patients in successfully overcoming these factors and maintaining abstinence.
Vascular Health Center, Division of Vascular Surgery, UMass Memorial Medical Center, 55 Lake Ave, North, Worcester, MA 01655, USA.
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D003376:Counseling / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000451:nursing*; D012907:Smoking / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods*; D013041:Specialties, Nursing / Q000379:methods*