Quote:
Originally Posted by Wild Coyote
Patients are assured the right to not take meds in this state. There is a huge advocacy group for this.
I generally agree. However, this is causing a huge problems within our newly built, thoughtfully staffed state hospital. The staff have all been seriously injured, are out on WC/ LTD/SSDI now and we keep it staffed by importing traveling nurses, etc. This provides zero consistency in the care, treatment and discharge planning for patients interested in stabilizing and returning to the community.
What to do?
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I can imagine that is a bit tough.
I know that most people in the psychiatric hospitals are not violent, but some can be. Or even if not violent to staff or other patients, manic and/or psychotic behavior can be scary for other patients to witness. I think that in those cases, if they're not being medicated/sedated, they need isolation or in very severe cases, be restrained. Some of such patients will complain about that, but what else can be done? Are they supposed to run around the wards terrorizing all of the other patients (and even staff) or damaging property? I see sedation as a much better alternative, personally, and I'm speaking as a former psych hospital patient that needed isolation/restraint to GET sedating medications administered and calm down.
Of course I believe there is a line between being physically abused by staff, in a psych ward, and having necessary isolation/restraint. But the fact is, if a person is acting in a violent way, simply asking "Joey, may we escort you to a quieter room?" is not gonna cut the mustard! Joey's butt might need to be dragged there (with him kicking, screaming, fighting and maybe biting), at the very least. And if he's not restrained with straps, he might start slamming his head into a cinder block wall. It's not always pretty! And Joey is likely not a bad guy. He's just a sick guy.
[I just randomly chose the name Joey. Sorry if anyone's name is Joey, here.]