Paper/Poster Title
Ensuring Safety During Behavioral Health Emergencies in Emergency Rooms
Advisor(s)
Megan Lieb, DNP
Ohio Northern University
Nursing, Health & Behavioral Sciences
m-lieb.2@onu.edu
Jamie Hunsicker, DNP
Ohio Northern University
Nursing, Health & Behavioral Sciences
j-hunsicker@onu.edu
Document Type
Poster
Location
ONU McIntosh Center; Activities Room
Start Date
22-4-2022 1:00 PM
End Date
22-4-2022 2:00 PM
Abstract
Problem: Psychiatric patient emergencies and behavioral outbursts are increasingly present in nonmental health units. With the associated increase in complexity and acuity of mental health emergency room visits, there is an associated increase in risk that they will become agitated, posing a risk to themselves and others. The yelling, manipulating, physical outbursts, and verbal or physical threats that can be associated with this patient population increases the risk of injury for staff and patients.
Purpose: The purpose of this project is to determine if the implementation of a behavioral health/aggressive patient bundle will decrease the number of staff injuries by aggressive and mental health patients.
Methods: This will be a quasi-experimental design study with the goal of determining the cause- and-effect relationship between behavioral health cases presenting in the emergency room and staff injury. The study will include nurses working in the Emergency Department who are caring for individuals with a diagnosed or suspected mental or behavioral health diagnosis. Nurses will be selected if they have completed their orientation on the unit and if they hold full or part-time positions. A behavioral health bundle and Behavioral Emergency Response Team classroom training program was implemented to combat this issue. The effectiveness of this intervention was determined by measuring staff injury before and after implementation.
Conclusion: Implementation of a behavioral health bundle may decrease total staff injury. The bundle may also give nurses confidence to provide care for individuals suffering mental health emergencies.
Recommended Citation
Logue, Allison, "Ensuring Safety During Behavioral Health Emergencies in Emergency Rooms" (2022). ONU Student Research Colloquium. 7.
https://digitalcommons.onu.edu/student_research_colloquium/2022/posters/7
Open Access
Available to all.
Ensuring Safety During Behavioral Health Emergencies in Emergency Rooms
ONU McIntosh Center; Activities Room
Problem: Psychiatric patient emergencies and behavioral outbursts are increasingly present in nonmental health units. With the associated increase in complexity and acuity of mental health emergency room visits, there is an associated increase in risk that they will become agitated, posing a risk to themselves and others. The yelling, manipulating, physical outbursts, and verbal or physical threats that can be associated with this patient population increases the risk of injury for staff and patients.
Purpose: The purpose of this project is to determine if the implementation of a behavioral health/aggressive patient bundle will decrease the number of staff injuries by aggressive and mental health patients.
Methods: This will be a quasi-experimental design study with the goal of determining the cause- and-effect relationship between behavioral health cases presenting in the emergency room and staff injury. The study will include nurses working in the Emergency Department who are caring for individuals with a diagnosed or suspected mental or behavioral health diagnosis. Nurses will be selected if they have completed their orientation on the unit and if they hold full or part-time positions. A behavioral health bundle and Behavioral Emergency Response Team classroom training program was implemented to combat this issue. The effectiveness of this intervention was determined by measuring staff injury before and after implementation.
Conclusion: Implementation of a behavioral health bundle may decrease total staff injury. The bundle may also give nurses confidence to provide care for individuals suffering mental health emergencies.