Introduction
Risk of Escape Attempt is a Nursing Diagnosis that is defined as the increased likelihood of a patient to attempt to escape or leave the hospital or care environment. Patients with this diagnosis may be at risk for further injury, and must be closely monitored.
Nursing Diagnosis Definition
Risk Of Escape Attempt: Increased likelihood of an individual attempting to leave an area or situation without permission.
Defining Characteristics (Subjective & Objective)
- Subjective
- Expresses intentions to leave from hospital
- Expresses feelings of being held against will
- Expresses feelings of being unsafe
- Objective
- Verbal threats to escape
- Anxiety exhibited
- Agitated behavior
- Attempts or inquiries into escape
- Fear of situation, such as concern to leave a safe environment
- Perceived physical danger, such as feeling unsafe in the hospital environment
- Comorbid psychiatric disorder, such as disorganized thinking
- Physical restraint use, such as patient's movement limitation
Risk Population
People in hospitals or other care settings who are at risk for attempting to escape or act out can include those with:
- Elevated anxiety levels or trauma
- Elevated agitation
- Perception of threat to personal safety
- Perception of coercion
- History of past escape attempts
Associated Problems
Risk Of Escape Attempt can lead to the following problems:
- Injury upon escape
- Aggressive behavior
- Non-compliance with treatment
- Misuse of medication
- Delaying medical care
Suggestions of Use
This nursing diagnosis can be used by nurses in the hospital and other healthcare settings to assess the risk of a patient attempting to leave or escape. It can also be used to develop a plan of care tailored to meet the individual’s needs.
Suggested Alternative Nursing Diagnosis
Alternative NANDA nursing diagnoses may include:
- Ineffective Coping
- Ineffective Impulse Control
- Risk for Aspiration
- Risk for Injury
Usage Tips
- Ensure that the patient's physical environment is safe and secure.
- Work collaboratively with other healthcare professionals, such as psychiatrists and social workers, to develop a plan of care tailored to the individual.
- Observe the patient closely for signs of agitation or distress that could indicate a need to address underlying physical or mental health issues.
- Encourage the patient to verbalize concerns or fears, and take those seriously.
NOC Results
The patient outcomes associated with Risk of Escape Attempt are:
- Compliance with Treatment
- Degree of Risk-Taking Behavior
- Physical Mobility
- Social Interaction Skills
- Safety Status: Physical
Explanation of Each NOC Result
- compliance with treatment: The extent to which the patient follows the care treatments prescribed for their condition.
- degree of risk-taking behavior: The amount of adverse behaviors, such as acting out or attempting to escape, the patient exhibits.
- physical mobility: The ability to move around, including getting in and out of bed, walking, and general ambulation.
- social interaction skills: The patient's ability to interact socially with others in a healthy way.
- safety status: physical: The degree to which the patient is safe from harm due to environmental and situational factors.
NIC Interventions
Interventions related to Risk of Escape Attempt include:
- Monitoring Vital Signs
- Infection Control
- Environmental Management
- Constant Observation
- Restraints Use: Physical
Explanation of Each NIC Intervention
- monitoring vital signs: Periodically measuring and documenting the patient's blood pressure, heart rate, and respiratory rate.
- infection control: Implementing measures to prevent the spread of infection.
- environmental management: Manipulating the environment to make it safer for the patient, such as making sure the exits are secure.
- constant observation: Vigilantly monitoring the patient to identify changes in behavior that could indicate an impulse to escape.
- restraints use: physical: Utilizing physical restraints to limit the patient's ability to act out.
Conclusion
Risk Of Escape Attempt is an important Nursing Diagnosis because it helps nurses to identify a patient’s risk for attempting to leave the hospital or care setting. Early identification of individuals at risk can help limit the potential for injury or other adverse outcomes. Nurses should be aware of the signs and symptoms associated with this diagnosis, as well as strategies to reduce the risk.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- What is Risk Of Escape Attempt?
- Who is at risk for Risk Of Escape Attempt?
- What interventions can be used to reduce the risk of patients attempting to escape?
Risk of Escape Attempt is a nursing diagnosis defined as the increased likelihood of a patient to attempt to escape or leave the hospital or care environment.
People in hospitals or other care settings who are at risk for attempting to escape or act out can include those with elevated anxiety levels or trauma, elevated agitation, perception of threat to personal safety, perception of coercion, and history of past escape attempts.
Interventions that can be used to reduce the risk of escape attempts include monitoring vital signs, infection control, environmental management, constant observation, and the use of restraints.
Leave a Reply