Sedation of Aggitated Mental Health Patients

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When mental health patients become acutely psychotic and agitated, they need urgent and appropriate treatment that stabilises their mental status and decreases the risk of self-harm and violence towards others (Elder, Evans and Nizette, 2005). This can range from displays of threatening or assaultive behaviours including refusal to co-operate, intense intimidating hostile demeanour with staring or movements, aggression towards objects and the intentional or unintentional harm to self or others (Electronic Therapeutic Guidelines complete, 2014). This paper will outline the current clinical practice of the sedation of aggressive patients in the Geraldton Emergency Department were I work as well as identifying the gaps between the current practice and best practice and how to implement change so that Geraldton emergency nurses are providing the safest and best care possible. Unfortunately violence in the health care system is becoming more prevalent each year and the necessity to be able to sedate patients safely and quickly to protect themselves and others has almost become a day to day occurrence in the Geraldton Emergency Department. Before sedation is considered the three main causes for these patients to present need to be discussed which can include one or a combination of medical disorders usually associated with delirium, substance abuse either illicit drugs or alcohol and lastly the majority of patients that get sedated in emergency departments have a variety of psychiatric disorders such as mania, schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder and personality disorders (Electronic Therapeutic Guidelines complete, 2014). Once sedation has been deemed the appropriate action and de-escalation strategies are not going to work ... ... middle of paper ... ...Pharmacological treatment of behavioural emergencies. [Online] Available at: http://online.tg.org.au.wachslibrasources.health.wa.gov.au [Accessed 25 Apr. 2014]. Jahan, N. (2013). Evidence Summary: Healthcare Facilities Patient Aggression and Violence. The Joanna Briggs Institute, pp.1-6. Long, K. (2013). Restraint: Chemical. The Joanna Briggs Institute, pp.1-3. Sharma, L. (2014). Aggressive Behaviour Management: Acute Care. The Joanna Briggs Institute, pp.1-2. Western Australian Department of Health WA Country Health Service, (2014). Sedation for mental health patients awaiting RFDS transfer from remote regions guideline. Perth: Western Australian Department of Health, pp.1-12. www.health.wa.gov.au, (2014). Mental Health Act 1996. [Online] Available at: http://www.health.wa.gov.au/mhareview/resources/legislation/wa_mental_health_act_1996.pdf [Accessed 25 Mar. 2014].

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