title: Preventing seclusion in psychiatry: a care ethics perspective on the first five minutes at admission.
abstract: In this article, an intervention aimed at improving quality of care to prevent seclusion in psychiatry by focusing on the first five minutes at admission is analyzed from a care ethics perspective. Two cases are presented from an evaluation study in a psychiatric hospital. In both cases, the nurses follow the intervention protocol, but the outcome is different. In the first case, the patient ends up in the seclusion room. In the second case, this does not happen. Analyzing the cases from a care ethics perspective, we conclude that applying the intervention in the right way implies more than following the steps laid down in the protocol. It requires a new way of thinking and acting, resulting in new relationships between nurses and patients. Care ethics theory can help clarify what good care is actually about and keep in mind what is needed to apply the intervention. Thus, care ethics theory can be highly practical and helpful in changing and improving healthcare practice.
authors.affiliation: VU University Medical Center, The Netherlands y.voskes@vumc.nl.
authors.forename: Yolande
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Voskes
authors.affiliation: VU University Medical Center, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Martijn
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kemper
authors.affiliation: VU University Medical Center, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Elleke G M
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Landeweer
authors.affiliation: VU University Medical Center, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Guy A M
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Widdershoven
mesh_terms: D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000523:psychology*; D008603:Mental Health / Q000941:ethics*; D010356:Patient Isolation / Q000941:ethics*; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations / Q000941:ethics*
keywords: Ethics of care; Tronto; nursing; psychiatry; seclusion