A 6 page research paper that examines restraint use in nursing practice. It offers an introduction to the topic, which states the parameters of the investigation, and then a literature review that examines current research and opinion, concluding that current nursing expertise works toward reducing or eliminating restraint use from nursing practice, and, recommends that, when its use is judged to be unavoidable, that it strictly follows preset hospital guidelines. An abstract of the research is included. Bibliography lists 5 sources.
Name of Research Paper File: D0_khnurres.rtf
Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
a literature review that examines current research and opinion, concluding that current nursing expertise works toward reducing or eliminating restraint use from nursing practice, and, recommends that, when its use
is judged to be unavoidable, that it strictly follows preset hospital guidelines. Introduction To physically restrain a patient is not only demeaning but potentially dangerous according to Sweeney-Calciano,
Solimene and Forrester (2003), who site research that indicates that physical restraining a patient can actually increase the incidence of patient injuries. The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations
(JCAHO), as well as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, stipulate that restraints should only be used when they are unavoidable and both organizations stress the need to minimize
their use (Sweeney-Calciano, Solimene and Forrester 2003). Examination of this issue began in the late 1990s, when there was increased public awareness of the incidence of patient injury and
even death, which had occurred due to restraint (Delaney, 2001). Subsequently, JCAHO came out with new guidelines on this practice in 1999, minimizing restraint use. The following examination of this
topic examines the literature in reference to restraint policies, the issues involved, and how nurses are coping with the current standards practice of keeping restraint use minimal. Literature Review
According to one research study, the top five reasons why nurses employ restraints are "disruption of therapies, confusion, fall prevention, protection from injury secondary to wandering, and behavior management" (Sweeney-Calciano,
Solimene and Forrester 2003, p. HN1). While these reasons are legitimate, the literature on this subject suggests that there are more effective and safer alternative options. Rather than automatically turn
to restraints, current nursing practice recommends that nurses examine the reasons why a patient is wandering. Perhaps the patient is confused and is trying to find the bathroom (Sweeney-Calciano, Solimene