Community Mental Health Nursing (RCMN)
RECEIVING A REFERRED CLIENT WITH MENTAL DISORDER FROM ANOTHER FACILITY
This is a process where the RCPN receives a client with mental disorder from another facility or hospital into her unit to be managed for continuity of care. This process occurs after the nurse has received all the needed information about the client from the referral facility.
Purpose
- Meet client's specific needs
- Ensure continuity of care
- Prevent relapse/complications
- Promote recovery
Indications
- Receiving a referred client with mental disorder from another facility for continuity of care.
- Managing the client in the unit after all needed referral information has been received.
- Preventing relapse or complications and promoting recovery.
Equipment
- Manual/electronic area register/ records of the client
- Referral forms
- Means of transport
Preparation
- Prepare the unit and receive the client and relatives.
- Welcome the client and relatives and make them comfortable.
Procedure steps
- Prepare and receive client and relatives
- Welcome client and relatives and make them comfortable
- Establish rapport and introduce self to client and family
- Receive documents and cross check information about the referral process
- Assess client's condition by conducting mental status examination (refer to content)
- Observe for any abnormalities
- Allay client's and relatives fears and anxieties
- Inform client and relatives about the facility's protocols
- Document all the received information
- Educate client and relatives on the need for continuity of care
- Answer questions tactfully that client and relatives may ask
- Inform client and relatives about the schedule of care
- Document all procedures in to the reports book
- Express appreciation and inform family of visiting them at home
Precautions
- Receive documents and cross-check information about the referral process.
- Conduct a mental status examination and observe for any abnormalities.
- Allay the client's and relatives' fears and anxieties.
- Inform the client and relatives about the facility's protocols.
Aftercare
- Inform the client and relatives about the schedule of care.
- Express appreciation and inform the family of visiting them at home.
Nursing considerations
- Establish rapport and introduce self to the client and family upon arrival.
- Assess the client's condition by conducting a mental status examination.
Patient education
- Educate the client and relatives on the need for continuity of care.
- Answer questions tactfully that the client and relatives may ask.
Documentation
- Document all received information and all procedures in the report book.
References and further reading
Educational resource only. Follow current Nursing and Midwifery Council guidance, local institutional protocols, scope of practice, and clinical supervision.
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