NURSING 3004 Mental Health Nursing
Question:
Some two weeks into taking on this new responsibility, you are now orienting Mary, a new nursing staff member. As you are taking Mary through the common room you find that one of the consumers, (Joe) is having an episode and commences screaming and throwing anything he can find around the room.
The other patients are becoming anxious and frightened about Joes behaviour. They are cornered in the room and cannot leave.
Answer:
Mental Health
Nurse’s safety in the workplace is one of the most important issues in the healthcare sector. They may suffer from work-induced injuries or from contracting an illness while in the workplaces. Mental health nurses are at a higher risk of sustaining injuries especially from their patients who are usually mentally unstable and ill thus it is important for every health worker to be aware of the appropriate safety measure to put in when required (Townsend, & Morgan, 2017).
There are certain measures I would put in place to ensure personal health safety. Since Joe is having an episode in an enclosed room and is evidence that Joe may be more violent and may harm other patients and me as well. It is important to observe the following health safety. First, is to communicate with other nurses to let them know of the incident. Should also give a report on what is happening. It is also important to try and calm the patient down but should be very cautious as he may think you want harm he thus becoming more violent. Should also ensure she is not wearing accessories or clothes that the patient may use to harm them. This includes necklaces, lanyards or earnings. The third safety measure is to alert the security team and keep them standby for anything. Forth is to utilize the de-escalation techniques if necessary. Surveying the environment is another safety measure. This will enable one to have an escape plan. Finally is to stay near or next to the exit (Cleary, 2003).
In conclusion, every mental health mental nurse should be well conversant will all health safety measure as they are in a very challenging career and also ensure the health safety of their patient.
References
Cleary, M. (2003). The challenges of mental health care reform for contemporary mental health nursing practice: Relationships, power and control. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 12(2), 139-147.
Townsend, M. C., & Morgan, K. I. (2017). Psychiatric mental health nursing: Concepts of care in evidence-based practice. FA Davis.
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