[pb57]

Our manager wants us to put all mental health pts in gowns immediatly. We have a whole range of pysch pts, some voluntary and some involuntary....what happens in other places?

[Altra]

This is policy where I am too. Clothing & belongings are locked up by security staff.

[nuangel1]

same in my er .if pt is there for psych eval undressed ,hospital gown clothing and belongings labeled and removed from room locked up.its hospital policy.

[RunnerRN]

If pt is suicidal or homicidal, everything off (I let them keep their underwear) and belongings taken from room. The one time I didn't do this (the kid's mom was in the room....stupidly assumed she would do something if he tried to leave) the kid tried to elope. If a pt is psych and being combative/threatening, I also make them disrobe. The general anxiety, panic, depression without SI pts I usually allow to stay clothed. I just feel like it will sometimes cause more trouble than it will solve. I do often have those patients empty their pockets though.

[traumaRUs]

Yep our policy also - naked and in a gown. We even look under breasts and in shoes/socks. Had a knife brought in by a suicidal pt.

[new er nurse]

Voluntary or involuntary go to the psych suite, disrobe, gowned, belongings to locker with security and patient is wanded (for metal and weapons).

[canoehead]

I absolutely agree that it's better for security for everyone to disrobe. That said, if a patient is voluntary and declines that part of the care, we can't physically force them to undress.

I also think that someone without homicidal or suicidal ideation, and in touch with reality may not need undressing. If they aren't a danger to anyone where is the security risk.

[chip193]

FT Place:
It is considered a faux pax to get the psych patients undressed and into a gown. It is actually considered by the psych department as a violation of the patient's rights.

Yes, it's nuts.

PT Place #1:
Clothing off, into a gown and paper pants. All belongings are secured.

PT Place #2:
Clothing off, into a gown, making sure that even undies are off (kinda like sending a patient to the OR). All belongings secured.

Hope this helps.

Chip

[MALE*RN*777]

We use to use scrubs for those on precautions (nursing staff wear street clothing in our facility) then we were told by JACHO (I will probably start a thread on what I think about them ) that this would single out those on precautions and was not right . Only if a pt. in a seclusion room would attempt to hang themselves with their clothing could we use a paper gown.