The patient with a history of schizophrenia presents in the emergency department with delusions, hallucinations, and unsafe behavior. The nurse learns the patient has completed an advance directive agreeing to hospitalization should decompensation occur. How would the current admission be categorized?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

1. Because the patient has a psychiatric advance directive, he is admitted as a voluntary admission. He is currently a danger to himself. If he did not have an advanced directive, he would be eligible to be admitted as an emergency involuntary patient. This case does not describe either temporary involuntary admission or an involuntary commitment.

The Patient with a History of Schizophrenia Presents in the Emergency