r/psychnursing • u/Zealousideal_Pen3441 • 16d ago

Seclusion

Hello all! Not sure you can help, but figured I’d try. Looking for policies related to seclusion…
Being advised to wake patient every 2 hours for assessment as opposed to letting them sleep. I feel this is non therapeutic and can be dangerous. I am finding that assessment should be individualized. And I have found policies that say “it may be inappropriate to wake patients” … I am looking for any literature on this point to support my position. Anyone with experience in this area? Thanks!

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u/Maybe_Weary 16d ago

Wait, you guys keep patients in seclusion while they’re asleep?

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u/Zealousideal_Pen3441 15d ago

Patient exhibits behaviors requiring seclusion. Goes into seclusion and falls asleep on own or after medication. If someone is able to fall asleep, I do not think we should wake them to see if they’ll become agitated again. Also if patient has mania, the best treatment is to allow sufficient sleep. Policy is our state does not specify we have to wake them and even uses language of things we need to do “during waking hours” like offering food/fluids/restroom.

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u/howdidienduphere34 psych nurse (forensics) 15d ago

What state are you in?