PICU

[melting_snow]

Hi all,

I am usually a lurker here and have done a search for the stuff I want to know but I can't find what I'm looking for.

My friend has been sectioned. She was hypomanic and kept turning up at A&E preoccupied with the idea that she was going to die. She also decided she was saving the NHS single handidly and Richard Brason was going to host her fundraising concert etc. She was placed in a respite facility but they couldn't deal with her behaviour as she was causing chaos everywhere she went and disrupting the other service users, so as a result, she was sectioned.

They advised against visitors so no one has been to see her. She was admitted on Friday last week but was moved to PICU last night cos she set 2 bins on fire.

So, this is the stuff I'd like to know:

- Does anyone have experience of PICU? Will she be safe there? What is the staff:patient ratio? Are the other patients disruptive? Is there any chance she'll improve, if only slightly, in such an environment? :(
- Will she be charged/cautioned for arson, despite being mentally ill?
- She is doing her nurse training and in her 3rd year. Will she be able to go back? This is her first admission.
- What is the average stay in a secure unit? I read 6-7 weeks but not sure how accurate that is.

I'm really frightened for her :( She is doped up to her eyeballs but is still running around screaming and shouting. She has also been very manipulative, though. I havent heard from where whilst she's been IP as they've taken her phone from her, but when she was in respite for example she text me to say she was SI'ing and had been doing it all day. When I spoke to the staff, however, they said she was in the garden sunbathing. She also told everyone she'd fainted into one of the staffs arms, but when I asked the support worker (who just so happens to be my slimming world consultant... ), they said she fell gracefully into the recovering position and responded when they asked where her keys were.

I'm so worried for her. I want her to be okay. She is the loveliest person I've ever met. She doesn't have a bad bone in her body. It's awfully strange to watch her become so unwell.

Thanks in advance :)

[PinQ]

She is there for her own safety and to try and make her healthier. So I wouldn't worry about her being safe. It is a facility where they will be able to monitor more closely and hopefully give her the help she needs. The stay will be decided based on what is best for her. Again the nursing will be an individual assessment basis probably made by occupational health. Hope she feels better soon.

[xlaurenx]

As far as the ratio to staff is concerned I am saying it will be, in PICU at the very least 1:1

[Steel Maiden]

When I was in a PICU the staff ratio was 1:1 and the least restrictive level of obs were every 15 minutes; the most restrictive was constant 2:1 obs.

[melting_snow]

thank you all for your help.

She was moved to PICU at a cygnet unit on Thursday as she is just far too chaotic.

Iwent to visit her today (its 2.5 hours away from our uni town but i came to visit my dad for the weekend and its only 30 min away) but thye couldnt facilitate the visit. I had booked it in advance but she stripped herself off and was being violent towards the staff so they advised against visiting her. I'm booked in for tomorrow but I'm gonna ring the ward before I go to see if she's alright for me to go.

Questions about psychosis...

What do I say to her when she says stuff that is obviously not true? I have read that you shouldnt agree with them but you shouldnt disagree either. So what do I say? Some of the things she is saying are (i spoke to her on the phone):

- the nurses slammed her fingers in the door so they're all broken
- she has blood poisoning (this is her main thought at the moment)
- the man who raped her is coming after her
- the nurses are beating her up


I know she has to "ride this out" but it is so frustrating seeing her like this :(

[xlaurenx]

Hmm

If it was me I would maybe question why she thought some of the things that she has said Why does she feel that? How does she know she has blood poisoning - whats happened to make her think that? Or for the 3rd question why does she feel that he is? I would tell her that she is safe in hospital and the man can't get to her. For the last I would say the nurses are there to help and care for you. Things like that.

However sometimes I arent the best with words though I hope it goes well tomorrow.

xx