Community Mental Health Nursing (RCMN)
REFERRING A PSYCHIATRIC EMERGENCY TO A PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL
This is a process where the RCPN transfers a client with psychiatric emergency to a psychiatric hospital for immediate attention. This process is initiated after the nurse identifies a client who is a threat to herself or others.
Purpose
- Meet specific need of client
- Ensure continuity of care
- Provide prompt treatment
- Prevent complications
Indications
- Transferring a client with a psychiatric emergency to a psychiatric hospital for immediate attention.
- Acting when the nurse identifies a client who is a threat to self or others.
- Providing prompt treatment and preventing complications.
Equipment
- Referral forms
- Means of transport
Preparation
- Observe and take relevant history and write a provisional diagnosis in the client's folder.
- Fill all necessary referral documents and give them to the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT).
Procedure steps
- Approach client in a calm and respectful manner
- Observe and take relevant history
- Assess the client's condition
- Write provisional diagnosis in client's folder
- Give first aid treatment if necessary to calm client
- Inform client and relatives about the referral and give reasons
- Allay fears and anxieties of client and relatives
- Call to inform and enquire about the receiving facility's readiness to receive the client
- Enquire about their protocols
- Inform the client and relatives about the receiving facility's protocols
- Assess client and family's readiness, if not provide other alternative
- Fill all necessary referral documents and give to the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
- Make arrangement for transportation
- Encourage client and relatives to ask questions
- Answer questions tactfully
- Thank client and relatives
- Document all procedures in the report book
- File client's folder at the records
- Request the receiving facility to give feedback to the health facility
Precautions
- Approach the client in a calm and respectful manner.
- Assess the client's condition and give first aid treatment if necessary to calm the client.
- Assess the client and family's readiness and provide alternatives if they are not ready.
- Inform and enquire about the receiving facility's readiness and protocols before transfer.
Aftercare
- Arrange transportation and thank the client and relatives.
- Request the receiving facility to give feedback to the health facility.
- File the client's folder at the records department.
Nursing considerations
- Allay the fears and anxieties of the client and relatives.
- Ensure all referral documents are given to the EMT and arrangements for transportation are made.
Patient education
- Inform the client and relatives about the referral and give reasons.
- Inform the client and relatives about the receiving facility's protocols and allow questions.
Documentation
- Document all procedures in the report book and file the client's folder at the records.
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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