You are describing techniques for remaining safe when responding to a call for a patient with a behavioral emergency. Which of the following statements is appropriate?
a. You need to encounter the patient first, and then come up with your safety plan.
b. You cannot be empathetic to the patient's feelings because that would be a sign of weakness.
c. You should approach patients quietly and try to surprise them so they don't have time to develop a plan to attack you.
d. You should be sure that you have at least one exit route, and do not let the patient get between you and that way out.
Question 2
You are out with a group of friends in a local tavern. One of the patrons gets argumentative and will not calm down. By the time the police arrive, the patron has gotten combative and is breaking glass bottles. The police subdue the patron and have him restrained. As you watch all of this happening, which of the following situations would cause you to be concerned?
a. The police have restrained the patron in a prone position on the floor.
b. The patron is supine on the floor, with officers holding one of his hands over his head and the other at his side.
c. The patron is threatening to sue the officers for physically restraining him.
d. The police say they will not release the patron until he has been seen in an emergency department.
c
Taking a Patient’s Oral Temperature with an Electronic Thermometer
Taking a Patient’s Temperature with a Tympanic Thermometer
Patient Teaching
The medical assistant escorts the patient into the examination room.
An open chamber MRI may be more comfortable for the patient, but images may not be as distinct.
Algorithm for assessing a patient at risk for self-directed violence.