I work on a 19 bed unit at a large hospital. There is another psych ward on the same floor with 20 beds. Both are locked, adult, inpatient units. Our patient population varies in age and disorders. For example, we may have an 18 y.o acting out Borderline, a 40 y.o. male with depression and alcohol addiction, and an 85 y.o. male with severe depression. We usually have several older adults with depession and catatonia who are receiving ECT treatments. I work part time on the evening (3 -11) shift.
We always check any thing that visitors or family members bring in for the patient. Visiting hours are only for 2 hours a day, 1 in the afternoon and 1 in the evening, and the visits take place in a dayroom with a staff supervising. Of course, metal and glass objects cannot be kept in the pateints rooms, or belts, long straps, or scarves, etc. But until a few months ago visitors could bring in food or drinks such as soda. An incident occurred where a patient had a visitor smuggle in some cocaine, hidden in some food, although the details of that have never been shared with me.This patient shared the drug with a couple other patients, tox screens were done, the police as well as risk management were involved. I wasn't there when it happened, but, as bad as it was, I cannot think of another such incident in the past 20 years.
Anyway, management immediately instituted new rules: no food could be brought in for patients, not even a Pepsi in an unopened 20 oz. bottle. The patients could no longer keep a few dollars on the unit to purchase a soda from the machine, nor could they order a pizza or any food for delivery. At the time we were told that this was a temporary necessity and would be revisited, but it wasn't, until I brought it up right before the holidays. A young visitor wanted to bring in some homeade Christmas cookies for her Grandma, but was told no, no exceptions.
I was also concerned because we get quite a few older patients from other countries, such as Somalia, Cambodia, Nigeria, etc. and in the past, their families would bring in home cooked, familiar food for them. A lot of them will not eat our American food.
As an experienced psych nurse, I feel we should be able to use judgement on what is brought in and consumed by our patients. Of course we should pay extra attention to the patients with addiction issues, but these are the minority, not the majority of our population.
Since I brought it up, management has asked me to research best practices in this area, but I haven't found anything in a lit review. The other hospitals in our area don't restrict food, just caffeine. Please give me your feedback. Thanks!
