BSN 375 - Mental Health Law & Ethics | Questions and Answers
Questions in this set (42)
Before 0930 the next day. Based on state law in this scenario, when will Mr. Seib need to be
Most state laws require evaluated by a psychiatrist?
evaluation within 24-48 hours of Case Study Details
admission. In Mr. Seib's state the Mr. Mark Seib, age 52, is brought to the inpatient psychiatric unit
requirement is 24 hours. by a deputy at 0930 am. He was found walking on the side of a
busy road, carrying a knife in his hand, talking to himself. He has
RATIONALE FOR INCORRECT: superficial cuts on his chest and arms, which appear to be self-
By midnight on the day of inflicted. He is shouting that he does not belong in the hospital.
admission. The psychiatrist has The current state law allows for a 24-hour involuntary
at least 24 hours to evaluate emergency observation hold.
the patient in an emergency The psychiatric technician and the deputy searched Mr. Seib upon
situation. entering the unit and he now sits in the interview room with the
psychiatric technician. Mr. Seib remains angry and defensive, and
Within 12 hours of admission. his speech is sometimes incoherent, and at times he seems to
In Mr. Seib's case, state law allows respond to unseen (internal) stimuli. The nurse enters the room
24 hours for an evaluation to and begins the admission process.
take place.
Before 0930 the next day.
By 1530 on the day of admission. By midnight on the day of
In Mr. Seib's state, the requirement for admission. Within 12 hours of
evaluation is 24 hours. admission.
By 1530 on the day of admission.
,Explain the legal process of his Mr. Seib tells the nurse that he does not understand why he is
involuntary admission in simple being admitted to the hospital. What is the best response by
and direct terms the nurse?
When the patient is Case Study Details
involuntarily committed, the Mr. Mark Seib, age 52, is brought to the inpatient psychiatric unit
nurse may explain the legal by a deputy at 0930 am. He was found walking on the side of a
process in simple and direct terms. busy road, carrying a knife in his hand, talking to himself. He has
This may promote a positive superficial cuts on his chest and arms, which appear to be self-
reaction and acceptance by the inflicted. He is shouting that he does not belong in the hospital.
patient. The current state law allows for a 24-hour involuntary
emergency observation hold.
RATIONALE FOR INCORRECT: The psychiatric technician and the deputy searched Mr. Seib upon
Information about the patient's entering the unit and he now sits in the interview room with the
involuntary commitment should psychiatric technician. Mr. Seib remains angry and defensive, and
be delivered in a professional, his speech is sometimes incoherent, and at times he seems to
respectful, and compassionate respond to unseen (internal) stimuli. The nurse enters the room
manner. Having him write down and begins the admission process.
what he wants to know may
pose further escalation of Tell the patient to write down what he wants to know.
anger or aggressive behavior, Explain the legal process of his involuntary admission in simple
and the pen may pose a safety and direct terms Provide the patient with the information for how
issue. he can discharge himself.
The patient was admitted Tell the patient that because it is an involuntary admission there is
involuntarily to be assessed for not a need for him to know.
possible issues that may lead
to anger and could possibly
lead to hurting someone or
himself. It would not be
appropriate to encourage the
patient to discharge himself.
The patient has the right to have
the legal process explained to
him, even if the admission is
involuntary
Laws are established for the protection of the patient and the public.
Because many patients with mental illness suffer from problems
Why are laws needed to govern the with disorientation and reality testing, it is essential that nurses are
care of patients with mental aware of and follow the laws designed to protect these patients.
illness?
Patients with mental illness are RATIONALE FOR INCORRECT:
always incapable of making Patients with mental illness are always incapable of making decisions.
decisions. Patients with mental illness are capable of making decisions, but
Laws are established for the may require special consideration during times of disease
protection of the patient and exacerbation.
the public. Patients with mental illness are automatically entered into the court system.
Patients with mental illness are Patients with mental illness are not typically involved in the court
automatically entered into the system unless there is a crime involved or a question of
, court system. conservatorship or sanity.
Any patient diagnosed with a Any patient diagnosed with a mental illness must be appointed
mental illness must be appointed a legal guardian. A patient with a mental illness is considered
a legal guardian. competent and able, unless proved otherwise by a court.
Questions in this set (42)
Before 0930 the next day. Based on state law in this scenario, when will Mr. Seib need to be
Most state laws require evaluated by a psychiatrist?
evaluation within 24-48 hours of Case Study Details
admission. In Mr. Seib's state the Mr. Mark Seib, age 52, is brought to the inpatient psychiatric unit
requirement is 24 hours. by a deputy at 0930 am. He was found walking on the side of a
busy road, carrying a knife in his hand, talking to himself. He has
RATIONALE FOR INCORRECT: superficial cuts on his chest and arms, which appear to be self-
By midnight on the day of inflicted. He is shouting that he does not belong in the hospital.
admission. The psychiatrist has The current state law allows for a 24-hour involuntary
at least 24 hours to evaluate emergency observation hold.
the patient in an emergency The psychiatric technician and the deputy searched Mr. Seib upon
situation. entering the unit and he now sits in the interview room with the
psychiatric technician. Mr. Seib remains angry and defensive, and
Within 12 hours of admission. his speech is sometimes incoherent, and at times he seems to
In Mr. Seib's case, state law allows respond to unseen (internal) stimuli. The nurse enters the room
24 hours for an evaluation to and begins the admission process.
take place.
Before 0930 the next day.
By 1530 on the day of admission. By midnight on the day of
In Mr. Seib's state, the requirement for admission. Within 12 hours of
evaluation is 24 hours. admission.
By 1530 on the day of admission.
,Explain the legal process of his Mr. Seib tells the nurse that he does not understand why he is
involuntary admission in simple being admitted to the hospital. What is the best response by
and direct terms the nurse?
When the patient is Case Study Details
involuntarily committed, the Mr. Mark Seib, age 52, is brought to the inpatient psychiatric unit
nurse may explain the legal by a deputy at 0930 am. He was found walking on the side of a
process in simple and direct terms. busy road, carrying a knife in his hand, talking to himself. He has
This may promote a positive superficial cuts on his chest and arms, which appear to be self-
reaction and acceptance by the inflicted. He is shouting that he does not belong in the hospital.
patient. The current state law allows for a 24-hour involuntary
emergency observation hold.
RATIONALE FOR INCORRECT: The psychiatric technician and the deputy searched Mr. Seib upon
Information about the patient's entering the unit and he now sits in the interview room with the
involuntary commitment should psychiatric technician. Mr. Seib remains angry and defensive, and
be delivered in a professional, his speech is sometimes incoherent, and at times he seems to
respectful, and compassionate respond to unseen (internal) stimuli. The nurse enters the room
manner. Having him write down and begins the admission process.
what he wants to know may
pose further escalation of Tell the patient to write down what he wants to know.
anger or aggressive behavior, Explain the legal process of his involuntary admission in simple
and the pen may pose a safety and direct terms Provide the patient with the information for how
issue. he can discharge himself.
The patient was admitted Tell the patient that because it is an involuntary admission there is
involuntarily to be assessed for not a need for him to know.
possible issues that may lead
to anger and could possibly
lead to hurting someone or
himself. It would not be
appropriate to encourage the
patient to discharge himself.
The patient has the right to have
the legal process explained to
him, even if the admission is
involuntary
Laws are established for the protection of the patient and the public.
Because many patients with mental illness suffer from problems
Why are laws needed to govern the with disorientation and reality testing, it is essential that nurses are
care of patients with mental aware of and follow the laws designed to protect these patients.
illness?
Patients with mental illness are RATIONALE FOR INCORRECT:
always incapable of making Patients with mental illness are always incapable of making decisions.
decisions. Patients with mental illness are capable of making decisions, but
Laws are established for the may require special consideration during times of disease
protection of the patient and exacerbation.
the public. Patients with mental illness are automatically entered into the court system.
Patients with mental illness are Patients with mental illness are not typically involved in the court
automatically entered into the system unless there is a crime involved or a question of
, court system. conservatorship or sanity.
Any patient diagnosed with a Any patient diagnosed with a mental illness must be appointed
mental illness must be appointed a legal guardian. A patient with a mental illness is considered
a legal guardian. competent and able, unless proved otherwise by a court.
