Administering meds under restraint

5

Currently studying Mental health nursing and I am on placement at a PICU mental health ward. Today I gave my first IM and depot both under restraint.
Patient was screaming and crying in 1st injection, 2nd one was calm but for the rest of the day hated me and shamed me for giving injection.
Struggling to get over the guilt of doing this. I know it’s for the best for the patients but can only see how much distress it caused them both at the time.
How did you all overcome this??

Reply 1

Tracey_W

17

Original post

by katiec04

Currently studying Mental health nursing and I am on placement at a PICU mental health ward. Today I gave my first IM and depot both under restraint.
Patient was screaming and crying in 1st injection, 2nd one was calm but for the rest of the day hated me and shamed me for giving injection.
Struggling to get over the guilt of doing this. I know it’s for the best for the patients but can only see how much distress it caused them both at the time.
How did you all overcome this??

Hi

You did what you were told to do from the registered mental health nurses with injections, I wouldn't beat myself up over doing it because it is part of your job.

I understand you seem a bit guilty about having to do it but just remember that if you didn't give that particular patient those injections and another nurse went into there room and then attacked by this person due to them not being sedated how would you feel about that. It's hard for you I know that because of what you did and you are feeling guilty about it. Get over it before it does you any harm when you have to inject another patient because you will probably refuse to give it and then it could affect your final outcome on placement. Inf it's sometimes the only way to deal with someone who has a mental health issue as they can be very violent towards everyone and harmful to themselves.

I think you perhaps need to talk to your sense nurse on the ward about the best way for you to deal with stuff like that. I know you mentioned it was your first time you have given injection and it was under restraint and you would have felt horrible because of this situation but it has to be done in a safe manner. As a nurse you want your patients to be calmed and not being destructive.

You'll obviously get better each time you give patients injections and understand that some will have to be restrained to allow the injections to be given. They say practice makes perfect and you'll.

We deal with people with mental health issues during pregnancy and have to be careful with them when they are in the maternity wards but we are guided by the mental health team on what we need to do if they kicked of.

Good luck with your your rest of your mental health nurse degree
NHS registered band 7 midwife.

Reply 2

ErasistratusV

21

Working in mental health is always going to be challenging and the post made by the OP illustrates exactly why.

Ultimately treating people against their will is not ideal. It's not ideal that people are effectively incarcerated against their will and ostensibly 'for their own good' because it feels almost inhumane or cruel.

The reality is that this is the only logical choice: you are administering a medicine with the intended and genuine aim to help keep the patient safe and ultimately, this will keep your other patients safe and more to the point, to keep you and your team safe.

Having worked in secure psychiatric care settings, I can tell you now that unless treatment is commenced and then maintained, a lot of people in such services will never leave them.

These kinds of mental health conditions are complicated and need a great deal of time and skill to resolve effectively. Some might argue there is no effective cure in many cases. I am no expert in that regard but I have seen people get better. They do somehow grow or adapt to live with whatever condition they might have and will eventually, with the right support, walk out of those front doors and get back to living life.

Being a nurse such an environment is tough. It's probably one of the most demanding jobs in nursing, actually. You have a level of responsibility that would be expected of nurses in the emergency department or critical care but possibly without the same level of medical oversight in some cases.

Look after yourself. First and foremost. That is basically the only real advice I can give you.

Reply 3

Kingston Trenyce

Official Rep

11

Original post

by katiec04

Currently studying Mental health nursing and I am on placement at a PICU mental health ward. Today I gave my first IM and depot both under restraint.
Patient was screaming and crying in 1st injection, 2nd one was calm but for the rest of the day hated me and shamed me for giving injection.
Struggling to get over the guilt of doing this. I know it’s for the best for the patients but can only see how much distress it caused them both at the time.
How did you all overcome this??

Hey, I just wanted to say it shows your compassion and how self aware your are! The first time you have to give IM or depot under restraint, especially in PICU, I imagine feels really heavy. In situations like this: it helps to remember ther intention behind the action. You weren't trying to hurt or punish anyone, you were acting as a part of a multidisplinary team to keep that person safe and help them stabilize
I would also advise reflecting with a mentor or supervisor it may help you process the emotions you are feeling.

Trenyce (Kingston Rep)

Administering meds under restraint

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