ER RNs, who does the petition?

[gonzo1]

Just wondering if I am being picky or not. Do your triage nurses do the petitions on the suicidal ideations that come in, or does the assigned nurse do it. Had the nurse bring me the petition out to triage this morning and tell me that I had to do it because I am the one she said she was suicidal to. I always thought it was the job of the assigned nurse to go in and assess the pt, find out reason for being there and then do the petition. I myself have never taken the petition out to the triage nurse and told her to do it. I have always done it myself after assessing the pt. Thanks for being there.:monkeydance:

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

Our ER docs do it.

[gonzo1, ASN, RN]

Thanks for all the input. I will make sure I check out the p and p for this today if I can find it. I did start looking for the policy last night. Thanks MLOS for the info. I had never considered that angle. After I find (if I can) the policy I will pursue it further if it looks like we are involuntarily committing inappropriately. You are right of course, CYA.

[Altra, BSN, RN]

Let us know what you find out, gonzo1.

Maybe there's some aspect I'm not aware of or considering, but it seems a gross violation of an individual's right to seek treatment. Imagine finding yourself in a situation where you were depressed, paranoid, etc. & having suicidal or homicidal thoughts ... but being aware enough to recognize when your symptoms were getting out of control. Imagine trying to do the responsible thing and present yourself to the ER for help, voluntarily seeking treatment, only to be involuntarily committed against your will. In my state emergency involuntary commitments are for a minimum of 5 days. In this hypothetical situation, you may have just needed a referral for outpatient counseling and to be started on an appropriate med ... but instead you would be left with this life-altering 5 days which now permanently limits your employment & restricts your right to bear arms.

I'll get off my soapbox now ... I'm certainly not saying that it was ever your intention to infringe on anyone's rights. But this situation just blows my mind ... that patients would be denied the ability to voluntarily seek treatment.

[gonzo1, ASN, RN]

Of course it was never my intention to retain someone and do something to them that could ruin their life forever. I am just following unit procedure. When one is oriented to work on a new unit and told to do something what else would you do but follow the instructions of your preceptor. Most of us nurses are just mommies and daddies and don't have law degrees in addition to our nursing degrees. We figure that if the preceptor shows us how something is done you need to do it that way. I have been told by preceptors and charges that this is how it is done in our ER. However many great questions have been raised with this thread that I never anticipated and I will question, question, guestion. I hope every one will remember that the original question was not how to do this or who to do it to, but rather who does it in your unit. Thanks to everyone for their input. I have learned alot already. Mostly that I want to go work in a place that has 24/7 mental health people that interview and if necesary do all this for you.