Question

What alternatives can the nurse use in place of restraints?

Answer 1

Restraints are used in medical fields to make the patient immobile for a limited period of time or more depending on the demand of situation. this can be used for giving proper treatments and to prevent developing injury to either self or any one else by the patients like drug abuse withdrawal patients , psychiatric disorders like aggressive behaviour , medical conditions like delirium ...

not only these aggresive patients but other unconsious or drowsy patients are also protected from falling from bed by using restraints . bed rails is commonly used in hospitals that prevent accidental fall from bed.

limb restraints are used in arms or legs . they are either leather , fabric , metal.

fabric type is most commonly used . if we use restraints in both arms and legs at a time in a patient , it is known as four point restraint .this fabric restraint can be used by a nurse in case of emergency before getting physicians order.

leather restraints can be applied only if get physicians order .

metal restrains used legaly only if get court order , in patients who are under legal custody with criminal behaviour like assault or murder ...

four point restraints used in patients having mental problems , seizure disorders , amnesia , under the effects of anesthesia ...

long term restrainments also harmful , as can leads to deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism .

as an alternative to these physical restraints , we can use medicine like benzodiazapine , antianxients , other anesthetic drugs for sedate the patients to the required time .

any method of restrainments need constant observation of the patients to prevent any unwanted events .

restraint can cause more agitation by the patient , they develop anger , depression , weakness ...

alternative methodes for restraints include

try to behave calmly with aggresive patients ,

encourage bystanders to visit the person at constant time

place the mattres in the floor to prevent fall injury in drowsy patients

avoid crowding around the patient and visit only for need ,

play relaxing music in the rooms

avoid keeping life threatening objects in the room

training of the nursing staff to deal with these types of patients