A Student's Understanding of Wandering and Elopement
Understanding the Difference between Wandering and Elopement
A student on the unit listens to an explanation of the difference between wandering and elopement. It is important for healthcare professionals to distinguish between these two behaviors, especially when dealing with patients with cognitive impairments. Let's explore the student's understanding through the following statement options:
A. "Wandering involves purposeful behaviors taken to leave the unit."
B. "Elopement occurs when the patient intentionally leaves an assigned care unit."
C. "Wandering is not as serious as elopement."
D. "If a patient elopes, healthcare team members are no longer responsible for the patient."
Correct Statement and Explanation
Final answer: Wandering typically refers to aimless or disoriented movement within a care facility, whereas elopement refers to an intentional, unnotified leaving of the care facility by a patient. Statement B correctly identifies the meaning of elopement in a healthcare context.
Explanation: In the context of health care, wandering and elopement represent two different behaviors of patients, often those with cognitive impairments. Wandering refers to aimless or disoriented movement within a safe environment, such as a care unit or hospital, without a fixed purpose or direction. On the other hand, elopement refers to a situation where the patient intentionally leaves the care facility, often without a notification, which can potentially put him/her in hazardous situations.
Therefore, among the given options, the statement 'B. Elopement occurs when the patient intentionally leaves an assigned care unit.' indicates an accurate understanding of the explanation between wandering and elopement. The other statements A, C, and D all contain misconceptions about the terms in question.
Questions:
Which statement by the student indicates an understanding of the explanation?
Answer:
The correct statement indicating an understanding of the explanation is: "B. Elopement occurs when the patient intentionally leaves an assigned care unit."