Does your facility still use Vest Restraints?

[UM Review RN]

Does your facility still use vest restraints?

Why or why not?

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

We've only used poseys WHEN a pt had a sitter...in other words, they were SO hard to control (keep from hurting themselves or someone else) that the vest restraint was absolutely necessary. The patient wasn't in danger as the sitter was quite literally sitting next to them or across from them, and help could be summoned immediately. This is a pretty rare occurrence; even wrist restraints aren't used much.

I remember a pt recently who had chemical and physical restraints and a sitter and it was all we could do to keep him from hurting himself or someone else. Mostly it was him we were concerned with. The vest kept him safer than wrists alone.

[Ann RN]

Yes, the facility I work in does still use posey vests. But I personally will never use them. My very first year out of nursing school I took care of a women who tried to get OOB with a vest on. She hung herself at the bottom of the bed. It's been 30 years, but that is something I will never forget. I look for other alternatives.