The African American patient has panic attacks, is suicidal, and is on an inpatient psychiatric unit. The psychiatrist orders sertraline (Zoloft) and clonazepam (Klonopin). The patient refuses the drugs; he requests to have herbs and African objects in his room to "remove the curse." What is the priority action by the nurse?
1. Allow the request without seeking further information from the patient.
2. Allow the request as long as the herbs and objects do not pose a safety risk for the patient or other patients.
3. Allow the request after the patient signs a release of responsibility to avoid litigation.
4. Allow the request after all members of the treatment team agree to it.
2
Rationale 1: To allow an ethnic request without seeking further information about safety could jeopardize patient safety.
Rationale 2: Nurses must grant ethnic requests as long as the request does not pose a safety risk to the patient or others.
Rationale 3: There is no need for the patient to sign a release of responsibility to avoid litigation; if items pose a safety risk, they cannot be allowed on the unit.
Rationale 4: The treatment team does not need to agree to this request; the nurse can approve it as long as the items do not pose a safety risk.
Global Rationale: Nurses must grant ethnic requests as long as the request does not pose a safety risk to the patient or others. To allow an ethnic request without seeking further information about safety could jeopardize patient safety. There is no need for the patient to sign a release of responsibility to avoid litigation; if items pose a safety risk, they cannot be allowed on the unit. The treatment team does not need to agree to this request; the nurse can approve it as long as the items do not pose a safety risk.
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The nurse wishes to participate in a community secondary prevention activity. Which activity does the nurse choose?
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