Leadership and Professional Image
Western Governors University
Leadership and Professional Image Task 1
A1. Problem or Issue
Adopting a new
... [Show More] approach to assess for patient’s suicidal level while admitted in behavioral hospital.
A1A. Explanation of Problem or Issue
Prior to implementing this change, patients could be experiencing different levels of suicide. There are different levels from no thoughts at all to actively seeking out something to perform the act. If patients did not verbalize to staff how they are feeling which most of the time they do not, there is no real way of knowing.
A2. Investigation
During my investigation I, found that suicide rate in the United States has steadily increased over the past decade. Several articles I researched, write about patients experiences in behavioral hospital, and wrote patients felt the greatest urge to commit suicide upon discharge and did not mention it to no one, and were able to convince all staff and psychiatrist that they were feeling well and ready for discharge.
A2A. Evidence of Problem or Issue
Interviewed Medical Director and staff, about the issues of suicidal levels neither were well informed of how patients are feeling until the problem is taken to far. Medical Director stated that they are coming up with several different forms of assessments and are open to any suggestions. Spoke with several MHT (mental health tech) about this same issue, not knowing how patients are really feeling until it to late and they have to use physical force to stop the patients from hurting themselves, they too would like a system where everyone worked together to better understand how the patients are feeling.
A3. Analysis
I have concluded after researching this issue of suicide levels, that it is a major concern in my work area, all staff feel the same and no one has said anything. We need to come up we a new assessment strategy, to help prevent patients from hurting themselves while inpatient and upon discharger.
A3A. Contributors to Problem or Issue
During my investigation I also found that, as floor staff MHT (mental health tech) and new nurse to psychiatrist nursing feel they need and would like additional training from the psychiatrist as to waring signs to look for in patients who are actively looking to hurt themselves.
A4. Proposed Solution or Innovation [Show Less]