Verbal approach to involuntary psych patients

[u/strawbqu]

I am a newer ER RN in Canada, I’m looking for advice on approaching patients that are placed on an involuntary hold. Specifically with approaching an individual with restraining and chemical sedation (I know.. seems brutal but if you know you know. I’m not sure if this is legally relevant in all countries but it’s how we do it here). I find it difficult particularly with paranoid and manic patients. What is your spiel for the reasoning of the intervention, when you especially know they need it and they are refusing (and ultimately will have no choice but to take the medication and/or be restrained)

I tend to start off with the fact that the doctor needs them to take sedation.. if they are compliant they will not need to be restrained etc..

[u/Additional_Draw_6483]

Can you elaborate on what you mean regarding approaching them to notify them of safety practices that include those? 

[u/strawbqu → u/Additional_Draw_6483]

Basically yes.. like what is your spiel? When they say “I’m not taking that” or “I don’t need that”

How do you tell them basically you need to calm down because you’re manic/unwell/delusional and tell them that you can willingly take it or we will have to force it

[u/Additional_Draw_6483 → u/strawbqu]

Some nurses act really abrasive and authoritarian with psych patients due to the fact that they can't deny any interventions so they assume the lack of right to refusal means lack of right to respect and it sucks. I always quietly wish baldness upon them.