Question of injection prn
 

I was injected during restraint in hospital last night. I havent told anyone so dont know the answer. My dad told me when i went in that they can administer injection prn unless the patient is sectioned and im informal... So im just curious really.. was that really suppossed to happen? This is random sorry i just wanted to know really.. im a bit worried

i really dont know the answer to this but imagine that must of all been very difficult and traumatic for you so im really sorry to hear what happened.

Others here may be better placed to advise as though ive been in hospital ive never been sectioned or injected with prn.

im guessing since you didnt consent to it maybe it really shouldnt have happened and could perhaps possibly even be classed as assault [i dont know this].

If on the other hand they were restraining you to protect you or others from substantial harm then maybe they can do that in an emergency without a section but generally im guessing they would have to section first but may depend on the circumstances perhaps i guess.

Sorry for the unhelpful answer!Just wanted to let you know id read.im sure others will be able to shed more light on this.

xx xx

Actually a PRN injection can be administered when you're informal under the 'common law'. I don't really know what that means but thats what I was told when it happened to me.
It might be worth asking a nurse xx

I'm not entirely sure how it all works. I know they can definitely inject you when you're sectioned. When I was there once I heard them discussing the use of an injection on a patient who was informal and what should they do. I think they can though as the duty dr would have had to come to write it up on your chart and they would get permission that way. Did they ask you if you would take it orally first? Sometimes they ask you that first and if you refused they'd inject you.

Why were you being restrained? What happened last night? If you want to use this space to talk about it...

If they feel you are a danger to yourself or others and refuse to take medication orally, they have a duty of care and can inject you.

Yes, they can do this. Your psychiatrist would have authorised it at some point I am sure, otherwise they would have used the law in order to justify it.

At the end of the day, they are keeping you safe from harming yourself or others.

It sounds like a frightening experience to have gone through, so I am sorry to hear it has happened. As others have said, they can inject prn under an informal admission - and it is by and large for the same reason as when under a section, in order to provide a sedative or other administered medicines to help prevent harm to self, or others. If you were under restraint, it was probably in order to prevent one of the above, so the prn would have formed a part of this action.

As it is something you are unclear about though, it is worth discussing what happened with your Psych and the Nurses there - to help you gain a better understanding, now you are in a calmer frame of mind, with regards to what happened, and why they made the choice to administer a prn med.

Do take care.

Roiben x

Yeah, I've been through that too. They can do that in the case of a personal safety emergency. If you are a threat to yourself or other patients, they can use the injection. It sucks, but it's an emergency procedure that the doctor can order. So basically, all the nurse needs to do is call the doctor for the order and then it is put into action.

Ok thank you for clarifying this for me guys.. i just wanted to check thank you for all taking the time to reply, it means a lot :) x