LOC

• Alert:responsive, answer questions appropriately, opens eyesspontaneously.

• Lethargic: open their eyes, can answer questions but easily falls asleep.

• Stupor: barely respondsto painful stimuli (like rubbing the patients’sternum)

• Comatose: unconscious/does not respond to painful stimuli

• Decorticate: flexion/internal rotation of upper extremities, joints and legs

• Decerebrate: neck/elbows extension, wrist and finger flexion

Torts: unintentional torts- negligence: forgetting to setthe bed alarm for a patient who is at risk for

falling and falls out of bed.

Malpractice- giving the wrong medication to the patient, error that harms the patient.

Intentional torts:

Assault vs Battery:

• Assault is if you threaten someone, “If you do not take this pill, I will smack you.”

• Battery: when you actually hurtsomeone, “You actually act by smacking the patient.”

• False imprisonment: Nurse will purposely restrain the patient or give them a chemical to a pt.

for the nurse convenience, instead of doing alternatives techniques.

Six Ethical Principles

• Beneficence – Doing good by the patient, what is best for the patient. Making the patient feel

safe in the environment that their in.

• Autonomy- respecting their rights by what they decide for their health care. Clients making

decisions but the patient must accept consequences of those decisions.

• *Veracity- truthfulness “Being honest with the patient’s treatment”

• Justice- fair/equal rightsfor everyone.

• *Fidelity- being loyal to the patient, keeping promises.

• Non-maleficence: Doing No Harm

Legal Rights of the patients in Mental Health

• Pt has the right to refuse treatment even if they’re in a mental health facility.

• Pts confidentiality: HIPPA: cannot be released without the consent of the patient

• Ifsomeone calls the unit asking about the patient refer them to contact the patient’s

family regarding the patient well being

• Over hear a conversation in a public place: tell them to go have the conversation in a

private setting.

• Mandated that abuse is reported, with a child or an older adult.

• Our duty to warn third parties if they’re at risk for harm.