Week 8: Psychiatric Emergencies Essay
Week 8: Psychiatric Emergencies A psychiatric emergency is a situation that if left untreated is likely to cause harm to oneself or others. These acute disturbances of behavior may manifest as suicidal ideation or attempts, violence, agitation, drug overdose, delirium, psychosis, mania, neuroleptic malignant syndrome, or serotonin syndrome. When psychiatric emergencies arise, they can present many challenges to the PMHNP. While many approaches to emergencies are similar when dealing with children and adolescents versus adults, significant differences also exist. This is particularly true with coordination of care, availability of resources, and legal implications of the psychiatric emergency. This week, you examine psychiatric emergencies and explain the ethical and legal issues surrounding these events. You will also review evidence-based suicide and violence risk assessments that you may use to screen patients. Learning Objectives Students will: Explain salient ethical and legal issues relevant to psychiatric emergencies in psychiatric-mental health practice Select evidence-based risk assessments for psychiatric emergencies Learning Resources Required Readings (click to expand/reduce) Medication Review Review the FDA-approved use of the following medicines related to treating psychiatric emergencies: Week 8: Psychiatric Emergencies Essay
Aggression Behavioral problems Cataplexy syndrome clozapine propranolol zuclopenthixol aripiprazole asenapine chlorpromazine haloperidol iloperidone lurasidone olanzapine paliperidone quetiapine risperidone ziprasidone clomipramine imipramine sodium oxybate Catatonia Extrapyramidal side effects Mania alprazolam chlordiazepoxide clonazepam clorazepate diazepam estazolam flunitrazepam flurazepam loflazepate lorazepam midazolam oxazepam quazepam temazepam triazolam benztropine diphenhydramine trihexyphenidyl alprazolam (adjunct) aripiprazole asenapine carbamazepine chlorpromazine clonazepam (adjunct) iloperidone lamotrigine levetiracetam lithium lorazepam (adjunct) lurasidone olanzapine quetiapine risperidone sertindole valproate (divalproex) ziprasidone zotepine Assignment: Legal and Ethical Issues Related to Psychiatric Emergencies Photo Credit: Getty Images The diagnosis of psychiatric emergencies can include a wide range of problems—from serious drug reactions to abuse and suicidal ideation/behaviors. Regardless of care setting, the PMHNP must know how to address emergencies, coordinate care with other members of the health care team and law enforcement officials (when indicated), and effectively communicate with family members who are often overwhelmed in emergency situations. In their role, PMHNPs can ensure a smooth transition from emergency mental health care to follow-up care, and also bridge the physical–mental health divide in healthcare. In this week’s Assignment, you explore legal and ethical issues surrounding psychiatric emergencies, and identify evidence-based suicide and violence risk assessments. To Prepare Review this week’s Learning Resources and consider the insights they provide about psychiatric emergencies and the ethical and legal issues surrounding these events. The Assignment In 2–3 pages, address the following: Explain your state laws for involuntary psychiatric holds for child and adult psychiatric emergencies. Include who can hold a patient and for how long, who can release the emergency hold, and who can pick up the patient after a hold is released. Explain the differences among emergency hospitalization for evaluation/psychiatric hold, inpatient commitment, and outpatient commitment in your state. Week 8: Psychiatric Emergencies Essay Explain the difference between capacity and competency in mental health contexts. Select one of the following topics, and explain one legal issue and one ethical issue related to this topic that may apply within the context of treating psychiatric emergencies: patient autonomy, EMTALA, confidentiality, HIPAA privacy rule, HIPAA security rule, protected information, legal gun ownership, career obstacles (security clearances/background checks), and payer source. Identify one evidence-based suicide risk assessment that you could use to screen patients. Identify one evidence-based violence risk assessment that you could use to screen patients. By Day 7 of Week 8 Submit your Assignment. Attach copies of or links to the suicide and violence risk assessments you selected. Week 8: Psychiatric Emergencies Essay