An inmate suffers from PTSD caused by severe sexual abuse during which she had been restrained by the perpetrator's girlfriend.One day she sees an inmate who reminds her of the perpetrator's girlfriend and has a flashback,during which she attacks the inmate.Correction officers place her in restraints per the jail's protocol.Which short-term response by the nurse would likely be most therapeutic?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The optimum outcome in this situation would be to minimize the duration of the restraint episode;the patient and others are at risk of injury until she is able to calm,and the restraints will likely worsen and extend the inmate's distress and agitation.Supporting the use of restraints ignores the need of select inmates to be managed with alternate responses that do not paradoxically worsen the situation instead of help it.Meeting with the patient to calm her after her release would be the second most helpful response because it does not shorten the duration of the patient's restraint.Confronting the officers is unlikely to be successful,since they are following proper procedures;accusing them of improper actions will likely increase defensiveness rather than expedite the inmate's release from restraint.

An Inmate Suffers from PTSD Caused by Severe Sexual Abuse