Final answer:
To minimize staff-splitting by a manic patient, schedule frequent staff meetings for a consistent care approach, as exclusive care by one staff member could risk burnout. Addressing long wait times and widespread mental health issues, plus adhering to recommended staff-to-student ratios, are also critical.
Step-by-step explanation:
To minimize staff-splitting by a manic patient, one effective intervention may be to schedule frequent staff meetings to discuss the patient's behavior and ensure consistent communication among caretakers. These meetings can be used to develop and maintain a uniform approach to care, which can help prevent the patient from playing staff members against each other. Having a single staff member exclusively work with the patient may create an intense dependency and is not usually recommended due to the risk of burnout and the therapeutic benefit of having different perspectives in a patient's care plan.
It is crucial in any healthcare setting to address problems such as long wait times, as evidenced by the on-campus counselor's statement of a 10-day wait for an appointment. Additionally, mental health issues being widespread among the student community, with 75 percent acknowledging some form of mental health struggle, indicates a pressing need for adequate staff to address these concerns effectively. Moreover, adhering to the recommended staff-to-student ratio suggested by the International Association of Counseling Services is vital for the provision of timely and quality mental health services.