Physical Restraints in Health Care Facilities
Jennifer Lucas
English 111 61L
April 10, 2011
Final Draft
Physical Restraints in Heath Care facilities Restraints are usually used for the protection of patients and others when medication and verbal therapies are insufficient to control potentially violet patients. Questions are still left unanswered about how the restraints are used. What are the protocols on restraints? Are the staff members trained in using these kinds of restraints? How long should a patient be placed in these restraints? What the effects of a patient when they come out of the restraints? These question need to be answered and looked into to makes sure that the patients that are being restrained are not being neglected and are being protected. According to the Mental Health Care Act. “To restrain means to place under control when necessary to prevent serious bodily harm to the patient or to another person, by minimal use of such force as is reasonable having regard to the physical and mental condition of the patient”(p 72). When a person is restrained, how long can a person be held in the restraints? .”While a mental health user is under restraint, he or she must be subject to observation at least every thirty minutes and such observations should be recorded in the clinical notes” (p 1). According to Dr. D Oliver. Falls injuries are common in institution and are harmful to the patients or residents. So are frailty, postural instability, delirium, dementia and behavioral disturbance. There is much pressure for something to be done to manage these risks. We need to have a better understanding of the evidence base for harm versus benefits and of the ethical issues” (p1). There are several types of restraints that are used on the patient. Just to name a few: Chemical restraint is a restraint to sedate the patient. A physical restraint is a restraint of being held by one or more persons. I have worked in health care facilities and have seen the different kinds of
English 111 61L
April 10, 2011
Final Draft
Physical Restraints in Heath Care facilities Restraints are usually used for the protection of patients and others when medication and verbal therapies are insufficient to control potentially violet patients. Questions are still left unanswered about how the restraints are used. What are the protocols on restraints? Are the staff members trained in using these kinds of restraints? How long should a patient be placed in these restraints? What the effects of a patient when they come out of the restraints? These question need to be answered and looked into to makes sure that the patients that are being restrained are not being neglected and are being protected. According to the Mental Health Care Act. “To restrain means to place under control when necessary to prevent serious bodily harm to the patient or to another person, by minimal use of such force as is reasonable having regard to the physical and mental condition of the patient”(p 72). When a person is restrained, how long can a person be held in the restraints? .”While a mental health user is under restraint, he or she must be subject to observation at least every thirty minutes and such observations should be recorded in the clinical notes” (p 1). According to Dr. D Oliver. Falls injuries are common in institution and are harmful to the patients or residents. So are frailty, postural instability, delirium, dementia and behavioral disturbance. There is much pressure for something to be done to manage these risks. We need to have a better understanding of the evidence base for harm versus benefits and of the ethical issues” (p1). There are several types of restraints that are used on the patient. Just to name a few: Chemical restraint is a restraint to sedate the patient. A physical restraint is a restraint of being held by one or more persons. I have worked in health care facilities and have seen the different kinds of
Cited: Citizens For Better Care “Physical restraints Fact Sheet Web”. 31 March 2011 www.cbcmi.org/publications/phys_restraints.htm Oliver, D Dr. “Restraints, Bedrails and fall, Evidence and Ethics” 24 Jan 2008, Web. 31 March 2011 Reducing Seclusion and Restraint for Improper Patient and Staff Safety “Health Care” 28 Dec. 2009 Web. 21 March 2011 http://preventionperspectives.com Restraint and Seclusion in Psychiatric Impatient Wards “What to Do” Web. 31 March 2011 www.medscape.org The use of restraints in psychiatric patients “Article” University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg October 2009 Web. 31 March 2011