Writing a new policy

[turnforthenurse, MSN, NP]

Does anybody have any good resources or tips when it comes to writing a new policy? We are revamping our care of behavioral health patients policy which will include things like visitation hours, taking belongings and when they should be taken (such as if they are an emergency hold) and attire, hygiene needs such as showering, diversional activities and what are allowed, etc. too often do we have individuals on one shift allowing our behavioral patients go out and smoke or have their phones in the rooms and then the next shift tells the patient something different. We need consistency.

If you're willing to share an actual copy of your facility's policies and procedures I am interested in that as well. Please PM me if that is the case.

I am also wondering if anyone else has policies regarding sending EMS patients to triage and implementing treatments in the waiting room if you have a level 2 but a bed isn't immediately available.

[Sassy5d]

The problems with policies are there are case by case, nursing judgements.

If someone is si/hi it's a given their belongings are inventoried and removed. Depending on pt, I may let them keep their cell phone.

There's def no smoking where I work but it's a smoke free facility.

Where I may leave a cell phone, another nurse might view that as wrong and take their cell phone. Again, it depends. If the person having their cell phone is causing major problems, then it is removed.

I had a APS case where at first, I let the old gal keep her purse, it caused her a great deal of anxiety attempting to take it. I went through it, inventoried it. There was nothing really I the purse, but she did have some jewelry. A visitor came and right in front of me the visitor is trying to pay her and the gal wAs trying to give her stuff away. I took the purse and explained why.