Table of Contents
REQUIREMENTS #
- Patient’s folder (electronic/manual)
- Incident book
- Nurse(s)
- Admission and Discharge book
- Daily ward state
STEPS #
- Search the immediate ward for patient. If not found;
- Get other nurses to assist you search the ward and hospital environment
- Inform the Charge Nurse immediately if patient is still not found
- Inform the following about the patient’s absconsion:
- Prescriber
- Hospital Security officer
- Psychiatric Social welfare officer
- Police
- Media
- Provide the above mentioned personnel with the appropriate information about the absconded patient. (e.g. name, age, sex, physique, residential address, etc.)
- Inform next of kin
- Document abscond of patient in the patient’s folder, daily ward state, incident book (stating the time patient’s absence was realized)
- Ensure patient is discharged in absentia by the prescriber if he/she fails to return within 72 hours and document appropriately
- Gather and label patient’s personal belongings for safe keeping