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Assess a patient’s mental status to prevent difficulties

Staff Development Weekly: Insight on Evidence-Based Practice in Education, March 20, 2008

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Anyone working directly with patients has probably cared for at least one patient or family who become confrontational with staff. Although these patients can potentially threaten your safety and are a source of stress for you and your fellow care providers, they also risk becoming dissatisfied and disgruntled with their care. Early assessment by the care team of patients' mental status may help you more effectively manage their care and potentially prevent problems. A patient's mental assessment involves checking for his or her:

• Cognitive functions, such as awareness, perception, and ability to remember
• Sense of self
• Interpersonal abilities
• Coping styles and ability to contend and deal with problems successfully
• Emotions and affective functioning

Editor's note: The above excerpt is from the online course "Handling Difficult Patients: A Guide for Healthcare Staff." For more information on this and other courses, visit www.hcprofessor.com.

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