Nurse attending to a patient receiving electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in a psychiatry department should ensure the compliance of all of the following, except?

Appeared in: BHU NO - 2015

Explanation

The statement "Emptying of bladder and bowel is not necessary" is factually incorrect regarding pre-ECT nursing care.
ECT involves inducing a generalized seizure, which causes temporary loss of consciousness and muscle control, including control over bladder and bowel sphincters.
To prevent involuntary urination or defecation during the procedure, it is a standard and necessary nursing intervention to ask the patient to empty their bladder and bowel just before the treatment.
This action is crucial for maintaining the patient's dignity, ensuring hygiene, and preventing discomfort.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

Option B: This is a required nursing action. The patient's hair must be clean and dry before ECT.
Option C: This is a critical safety measure that must be ensured before ECT.
Option D: This is a fundamental legal and ethical requirement before performing ECT.

Related Visual

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Use the key finding related to Pre-procedure nursing care for Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) to guide bedside assessment, documentation, and the next nursing action.
The nurse's role in preparing a patient for ECT is pivotal for ensuring safety, efficacy, and patient dignity. Meticulous adherence to the pre-procedure protocol minimizes risks like burns, aspiration, and injury.
In Indian healthcare settings, family involvement is significant. While patient consent is primary (if they have capacity), ensuring the family also understands the procedure can be crucial for support and adherence to post-ECT care.
What if? A patient with dementia is scheduled for ECT but becomes agitated and refuses to have their wedding ring removed, which they have not taken off in 50 years. The nurse should not proceed with force. The nurse must calmly explain the safety risk (burns), involve the family to help persuade the patient, and notify the psychiatrist and anesthesiologist. The procedure may be postponed if the ring cannot be safely removed or covered according to hospital policy.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the keyword 'except'. This tells you that three of the options are correct and necessary nursing actions, and one is incorrect.
Your task is to find the false statement or the action that is not required.
Read each option and evaluate it based on standard nursing protocols for a procedure involving anesthesia and induced seizures.
Option A states emptying the bladder/bowel is 'not necessary'. Consider what happens during a seizure (loss of sphincter control). This makes the statement suspicious.
Options B, C, and D describe keeping hair clean/dry, removing metal, and getting consent. These are common safety and legal steps for many procedures.
Conclude that the only incorrect statement is A, as preventing incontinence is a key part of patient care in this context. Therefore, this is the answer to the 'except' question.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Pre-procedure nursing care for Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)
Stem keywords: electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), psychiatry department, nurse attending
Lead-in keywords: except
Negative lead-in flag: The question asks the nurse to identify which action is NOT a required part of pre-ECT care.

Question ID

QN7P5Pq5q9tnydQqssUYdu

Reference Book

E6 Guide to Mental Health & PSYCHIATRIC NURSING R Sreevani— Part 1 (pp 26-289 of 579) p. 142-144

E6 Robert Boland, Marcia L. Verduin - Kaplan and Sadock's Comprehensive Text of Psychiatry-Wolters Kluwer Health (2024) (pp 1-16525 of 16525) p. 11181-11183

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