Community Mental Health Nursing (RCMN)
REFERRING A CLIENT TO ANOTHER FACILITY/HOSPITAL
This is a transfer process initiated by the RCPN in consultation with other health team members from their facility to another facility or hospital in order to meet the needs of the client to ensure continuity of care. This process is initiated after the nurse realizes that the client will need further management in another facility after assessment.
Purpose
- Meet client's specific needs
- Ensure continuity of care
- Prevent complications
- Promote recovery
Indications
- Transferring a client to another facility or hospital to meet needs that cannot be managed in the current facility.
- Initiating a referral in consultation with other health team members after assessment.
- Ensuring continuity of care and preventing complications.
Equipment
- Manual/electronic area register/ records of the client
- Referral forms
- Means of transport
Preparation
- Arrange and put in place all referral documents.
- Call to notify the receiving facility about the referral and give reasons.
Procedure steps
- Arrange and put in place all referral documents
- Inform client and relatives about the referral and give reasons
- Allay client's fear and anxiety
- Call to notify the receiving facility about the referral
- Give reasons for the referral to the receiving facility
- Enquire about the receiving facility's protocols and inform the client and relatives
- Label and pack all accompanying items of the client upon getting a positive feedback from the receiving facility
- Allow client and relatives to ask questions about the referral process and answer appropriately
- Assist and arrange for transportation
- Thank client and relatives and sees them off
- Request for a feedback from receiving facility on the state of client
- Document all procedures, file folder at the records department
Precautions
- Inform the client and relatives about the referral and give reasons.
- Allay the client's fear and anxiety.
- Notify the receiving facility and enquire about its protocols before transfer.
- Label and pack all accompanying items of the client.
Aftercare
- Assist and arrange for transportation and see the client and relatives off.
- Request feedback from the receiving facility on the state of the client.
Nursing considerations
- Consult with other health team members before initiating the referral.
- Ensure all referral documents, transport and receiving facility arrangements are in place.
Patient education
- Allow the client and relatives to ask questions about the referral process and answer appropriately.
- Inform the client and relatives of the receiving facility's protocols.
Documentation
- Document all procedures and file the client's folder at the records department.
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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