Question

Amanda is caring for an 82-year-old patient with a fractured hip and dementia. In the shift report, she learns that the patient becomes agitated and combative at night. During her evening shift assessment, Amanda notes that the patient does not know where she is or why Amanda is in her room. Amanda remembers her hospital training on dealing with agitated patients by using soothing tones when addressing the patient and ensuring a calm environment. During assessment, the patient yells that Amanda is killing her. She begins swinging at Amanda with the telephone, breaking her jaw. Amanda runs out of the room, and her co-worker calls a "Code White."

What is a Code White, and how would it help in this situation?

Identify elements of this case that signal a potentially threatening situation?

What preventive measures does the facility have in place to deal with hostile situations?

If Amanda were floated to another floor where this situation occurred, would this change how she should approach the situation?

Answer 1

1. Code white is used to mention the violent and behavioral situation of the patients. In this case , white code is appropriately used because when patient begins swinging Amanda with telephone ,breaking her jaw and runs out of the room is a violent behaviour.

2. Elements of this case that signal a potentially threatening situation are:-

- Patient yelling that Amanda is killing her

- Swinging with telephone

- Breaking her jaw

- Patient running out of the room

3.The preventive measures the facility have in place to deal with hostile situations are :-

- Isolation of patients

- Regular monitoring of the patients behaviour

- Removal of all harmful items from the surroundings of the patient.

- Not leaving the patient alone in the room

- Encouraging the patient to express their feelings

- Involvement of patients in extra curricular activities to deviate their concern

- Compliance of medications

- Involvement of patients family in the therapy

- Use of restraints if not able to handle the patients violent behaviour .

4.No, there will be no change in the approach because action what has to be taken in response dependent upon the situation not on the place .If Amanda was shifted to some other floor and the same scenario takes place there, then also white code has been announced in response to the violent behaviour of the patient and necessary actions had been taken .