r/nursing • u/strawbqu • 3d ago

Nursing Hacks Verbal approach to involuntary psych patients

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..

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u/Old_Glove9292 3d ago

Gentle reminder that the World Health Organization considers both forced restraints and involuntary hospitalization to be human rights abuses, and is advocating for those interventions to be banned globally:

https://www.who.int/news/item/10-06-2021-new-who-guidance-seeks-to-put-an-end-to-human-rights-violations-in-mental-health-care

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u/pillslinginsatanist Pharm Tech 3d ago

I used to feel this way too, but after knowing more healthcare people, I wonder like... what else can you really do? If they're a danger to others, to the care team, etc., what option do you have other than restraints or involuntary hospitalization? Wait for them to hurt someone and imprison them? That would arguably be worse....