As a student nurse you have been working on the same ward for a few weeks, you have noticed that one of the elderly female patient's doesn't really interact with other patient's or staff, you have heard the staff saying she is difficult and tend to leave her alone. Over the past few weeks you have made a point of speaking to her and involve her whenever possible. She really seems to brighten when you approach her and she has told you that she looks forward to our chats.
After a busy shift, you realise that you didn't chat to the patient and just before you go on your first break of the day you go over to say hello. When you ask if everything is ok she asks if she can tell you something in confidence and begs you not to tell. She tells you that she has not been taking her medication, she gets her glass case and shows you inside, you see that there is at least 15 tablets then she says she is waiting until there is a few more and she is going to take them all together as she has had enough of living.
You are quite shocked and explain to the patient the importance of the medications, and that you now have to say something. She says that she told you in confidence and would be cross with you, she asks you to leave
You understand the patient has the right to refuse medications however as she has numerous tablets on her it is your duty to do no harm.
It is proposed that The student nurse breaks the patient's confidence and takes the matter to the patient's nurse.