Essay On Restraints

775 Words2 Pages

A restraint is any physical or chemical measure in the healthcare setting to keep a patient from being free to move (Craven, Hirnle & Jensen, 2013). Nurses are presented with dilemmas in deciding whether to use restraints to protect the patient from falls, harming themselves or others, suppress agitation and to facilitate treatment. Improper usage and misconceptions of restraining can have negative consequences including physical and psychological issues. Physical and psychological disadvantages from restraining could include low blood pressure, decreased circulation, thrombosis, constipation, urinary incontinence, depression, fear and increased confusion (Yeh et al., 2004). Educating nurses may reduce restraint usage by increasing knowledge, changing attitudes, and providing alternatives to treatment. Policy changes within the facility could also be needed along with education to reduce restraining patients when an alternative could have been used.
Yeh et al. (2004) showed in the research study titled The Effects of Continuing Education in Restraint Reduction on Novice Nurses in Intensive Care Units positive results. Pre-test and post-test questionnaires were used on 37 novice nurses in Taiwan to assess outcomes of knowledge, perception, attitude and clinical practice of restraints. A four-hour restraint reduction lecture was presented and outcome was measured three days later. Restraint knowledge increased significantly in the post-test questionnaire. This knowledge included innovative ways to use as an alternative to restraints. Perception of restraint usage improved considerably after receiving the lecture on several misconceptions of the use of restraints to prevent patient injury including restraining to prevent f...

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...stems, special angled cushions in chairs, anticipating patients’ toileting needs, position changes and location changes (Craven, Hirnle, & Jensen, 2013).
The negative components to the educational training could include the time and money devoted to the program taking away from some areas that may be short staffed. This could add to increasing restraint usage from not having the time to put alternative therapies into play. Institution policies and repercussions from not correctly using restraints may provide more compliance than just the education alone. A combination of the two may be needed to improve circumstances. Another negative component is the attitudes after education may stay the same and not change practice of trying alternative therapies first. Continuing education may help change these attitudes in the long run and lead to improved patient care.

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