A nurse tells a client that she will be back in 10 minutes to re-assess the client’s pain. When the nurse returns in 10 minutes, which aspect of the therapeutic relationship is the nurse developing?

When faced with an unfamiliar treatment instruction, it is important for the nurse to consult the facility’s policies and procedures to determine the appropriate course of action. These policies and procedures provide guidance on how to carry out treatments safely and effectively and can help ensure that the patient receives the best possible care.

While it may also be appropriate for the nurse to call the physician for clarification (a), check the state’s nurse practice act (b), or contact the nursing supervisor for approval (d), consulting the facility’s policies and procedures should be the first step in determining the appropriate course of action.

The ultimate goal of inpatient mental health treatment is to help patients stabilize and manage their mental illness to the point where they can safely return to their homes and communities. Inpatient treatment is typically only used for short periods of time to stabilize a patient who is experiencing severe symptoms that cannot be managed on an outpatient basis. Once the patient is stabilized, they can be discharged and transitioned to an outpatient treatment program or a community mental health centre.

While some mental illnesses may be curable, many are chronic conditions that require ongoing management and treatment.

Finding a facility for long-term care may be appropriate in some cases, but it is not generally a goal of inpatient mental health treatment.

Being arrested and placed in prison is not a desirable outcome of mental health treatment and is not a goal of the treatment process.