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.
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Vascular Health Center, Division of Vascular Surgery, UMass Memorial Medical Center, 55 Lake Ave, North, Worcester, MA 01655, USA.
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*