Nursing Assignment: Mental Illness and Restraints in Healthcare

Running head: NURSING ASSIGNMENT
NURSING ASSIGNMENT
Name of the Student
Name of University
Author’s note

NURSING ASSIGNMENT
Introduction
People suffering from mental illness face specific safety issues while receiving health
care. However, lack of awareness can be found among the health care professional at all the
levels. One of the patients safety issue includes use of restraints and seclusion. This directly
affects the safe deliver of the care (Slemon, Jenkins & Bungay, 2017). That’s why it is important
to understand the factors that might originate in the system and system that led to such types of
events (Slemon, Jenkins & Bungay, 2017). This reflection will provide an analysis of the event
that took place in my clinical setting followed by asset of recommendation that should be or
should have been done by the nurse to prevent the occurrence of such events.
Reporting
During my placement in the mental health ward, I encountered a 32 years old woman,
who had been admitted in to the psychiatric ward with aggression. As stated by the family
members, he has pushed the informal caregiver, just as she approached her with the food.
Although she had regretted it many times after the incident. However, similar incidents have
been repeated even after this. The patient had stopped taking food and drinks and have fainted a
number of times. While she was under my care during the day time, I did not have to force much
to make her eat some liquid food, but the next day, after my arrival, I was shocked to hear from
his family members, that the nurse in the night shift has applied restraint and had forced her, as
the patient was refusing to take food. This complaint was escalated to the higher authority of the
hospital.
Responding

NURSING ASSIGNMENT
I was extremely shocked as well as ashamed of the incident, as the patient was under my care
during the day shift and I could have instructed the nurse in the night shift to be a bit alert and
careful while handling the mood swings of this patient. I was ashamed due to the fact that there
clear restraint guidelines, that are followed if extreme condition comes persists or the patient
becomes extremely aggressive that can harm the health professionals and the other professionals
(Perez et al, 2017). Throughout our nursing course we have learnt that this type of behavioural
management are generally avoided as it can have serious impact upon the patients.
Relating
Through my personal experience, I have noticed that application of physical restraints
further aggravates situations and being physical traumatised have brought back memories of
previous trauma in patients and they have descried the situation to be “re-traumatising”.
Restraints are also perceived to be “anti-recovery” and can make the mental patients fearful of
the treatment. Furthermore, legal issues can also arise, as per the Mental Health Act, 2015,
physical restraints should only be allowed to manage serious imminent harm only when
appropriate and all the other alternative options has been considered (Lanthén, Rask &
Sunnqvist, 2015). Hence, the nurse could have opted for an alternative technique to manage the
disruptive behaviour of the patient. I had witnessed that distracting the patient from the potential
triggers of aggression can be done by keeping the patient in a calm environment. The patient can
be given with some constructive and sensory activities that can keep the patient engaged.
Furthermore, a rapport can be established with the patient such as talking about good experiences
or funny incidents. Most of the patients having delusional thoughts also suffers from trust issues,
with their families. This sort of behaviour would help to create trust between the patient and the