Doing away with side rails?

In theory I agree but in the real world with budget cuts and minimal staffing, this is close to impossible unless the nurse works on her own time - as I have often said- there is plenty of time to do everything if you work 24 hours each shift!!
I think surveyors are asking for champagne on beer budgets.

absolutely!

As with any restraint, you may use it IF you document need, medical diagnosis, consent, and all the other methods you have tried before you use a restraint. Side rails are only restraints if they prevent the resident from getting up...much like a recliner. If you put ME in a recliner, it won't be a restraint because I have the strength and the cognitive ability to put the foot rest part down and get out. On the other hand, if you take a confused, debilitated elder and put them in the same recliner, it could be a restraint.
We had survey 2 months ago. One of the surveyors looked at the seat belt on one of the residents. She asked why the resident had a restraint. I explained that she was a frequent faller with no safety awareness and severe dementia. She had fallen and broken a wrist and despite alarms and self releasing seat belts, she continued to get up and try to ambulate. The surveyor had no issue with it.