The 15-year-old patient is hospitalized after harming herself when her mother would not let her use her cell phone. While she is awaiting inpatient psychiatric placement, she repeatedly expresses a desire to leave. Which intervention is most helpful to prevent the patient from eloping?

Assign a member of the nursing staff to sit beside the patient. It is not appropriate to restrain a patient unless they are actively trying to leave and their actions are potentially harmful to themselves or others. As this patient is verbalizing a desire to leave, it is more appropriate to have someone sit with her. This sitter should be a member of the hospital staff, not a family member because the patient has had conflict with family.

The 15-year-old patient is hospitalized after harming herself whe...

Category: Psychosocial Integrity
Difficulty: 5

Topics: Crisis Management Delegation, Prioritization and Leadership Mental Health Disorders Health Care Ethics, Law, and Policy Health Promotion Nursing Interventions

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