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/Old_Glove9292]

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

[u/strawbqu → u/Old_Glove9292]

In a perfect world, I would totally agree. But when you have someone charging around the emergency department climbing the walls, throwing chairs at people, spitting in the faces of other patients.. that is unfortunately not safe for anyone. But it is always a last resort.

[u/Old_Glove9292 → u/strawbqu]

Spitting in someone's face is assault. I agree that shouldn't be tolerated, but restraints and involuntary hospitalization are not the answer. Call the police.

[u/Informal-Face-1922 → u/Old_Glove9292]

Dude, the police brought them to us.

[u/Old_Glove9292 → u/Informal-Face-1922]

So if a corrupt cop or corrupt precinct tells you to abuse a patient, then it's ok?