Nurses and Physical Restraints: Perspectives and Challenges
Author Information
Author(s): Lai Claudia KY
Primary Institution: The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Hypothesis
Are nurses who use physical restraints also victims of the system?
Conclusion
Nurses experience internal conflicts regarding the use of physical restraints, feeling pressured by management and inadequate staffing.
Supporting Evidence
- Nurses feel ambivalent about using restraints but often feel they have no choice due to safety concerns.
- Staff reported feeling pressured by management to reduce restraint use while also fearing the consequences of patient falls.
- Communication issues among staff, management, and families contribute to the continued use of restraints.
Takeaway
Nurses often have to use restraints on patients to keep them safe, but they feel bad about it and wish they had more help.
Methodology
Focus group interviews with registered nurses to explore their perspectives on physical restraints after a restraint reduction intervention.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the voluntary nature of participation and the influence of management pressure.
Limitations
The study was conducted at a single site, limiting the generalizability of the findings.
Participant Demographics
22 registered nurses (3 males and 19 females) with a mean nursing experience of 2.5 years.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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