Class 6 Unit 3 Topic 2

Purpose: Comment the Discussion (Class 506 Unit 3 Topic 2 Comment 1 L) Brooke

Thing to Remember:

Answer this discussion with opinions/ideas creatively and clearly. Supports post using several outside, peer-reviewed sources.

1 References, find resources that are 5 years or less

No errors with APA format 6 Edition

To Comment:

Topic 2: Clinical Criteria for Determining Danger to Self

The two physicians that are also the husband’s friends should not be the ones allowed to sign off on her being admitted to the psychiatric unit. Although the law in New York State allows two physicians to sign off on the paperwork to admit someone, they should be two physicians that are not already related to the client and the case in some way. Currently, the wife is not in danger to herself or anyone else, she is only intoxicated and being loud. Which does not meet the requirement for involuntary admission to the psychiatric ward. It is the nurse’s responsibility to be the patient’s advocate in situations such as these. Due to the patient being intoxicated she is unable to make sound decisions herself so the nurse must follow her code of ethics to protect this patient. Beneficence is the expectation of a nurse to do good and prevent harm to all patients (Westrick, 2013). Nursing codes for professional practice and ethics were developed to protect both the nurse and the patients (Ingham-Broomfield, 2017).

As the neighbor you are aware that the individuals are currently going through a divorce, so you cannot rule out that he is putting her at greater risk of losing her children. The involuntary commitment of a possible psychiatric client requires two types of evaluations. First, ethically a clinical evaluation of the patient’s condition must be made in assessing their medical needs (Rotvold, & Wynn, 2015). Second, an assessment of the legal basis is essential as it relates to confidentiality and legal rights of individuals (Rotvold, & Wynn, 2015). It seems that the husband is strongly using his personal affairs to influence the physicians to commit his wife. To be sure that this situation was handled accordingly for the patient I would discuss my concerns with the charge nurse/supervisor on the floor that night as well to further advocate for my patient.

References:

Ingham-Broomfield, R. (2017). A nurses’ guide to ethical considerations and the process for ethical approval of nursing research. Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing, 35(1), 40-47.

Rotvold, K., & Wynn, R. (2015). Involuntary psychiatric admission: Characteristics of the referring doctors and the doctors’ experiences of being pressured. Nordic Journal of Psychiatry, 69(5), 373-379.

Westrick, S. J. (2013). Essentials of nursing law and ethics (2nd ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.