Which scenario is most likely to decrease safety on a psychiatric-mental health unit?
1. A patient with frequent hypoglycemia episodes
2. A patient with depressive symptoms and a history of hypertension
3. Mostly long-term admissions with increased length of stay
4. Mostly RN staff with a few unlicensed assistive personnel (UAPs)
Answer: 1
Explanation: A patient (or patients) with complex medical issues and acuity will increase the amount of nursing time needed to manage them and create clinical challenges to safety. A patient with depressive symptoms and a history of hypertension is likely stable and less acute, based on the information provided. Having a high RN ratio and a number of long-term admissions would likely result in greater safety due to improved staffing levels and lower acuity on the unit.
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