Is this considered a restraint?

[Firefly29]

Scenario: An older adult client who is confused, but has a blood draw order. Is it a restraint to take a blanket/sheet and tuck it around their arms to keep the arms from moving?

Luckily, when I had this situation, I was able to find some help on the floor from another tech. I know in newborn nursery they do this for babies during circumcision. I was just wondering if this would be considered a restraint on an adult?

[MunoRN, RN]

"to keep the arms from moving" should tell you that yes it is a form of restraint. Always cover yourself legally, because you never know who is watching. These days people have cameras everywhere, and don't be surprised to find out that your little confused patient just may have a family member who sets something up to record audio and/or video while they are gone. Always assume someone is watching, and always cover your butt legally. Better safe than sorry - in all situations.

Why do you think it would be a problem if "someone is watching"?

[Leader25, ASN, BSN, RN]

"I have to disagree. When CMS refers to restraints to facilitate a procedure, I don't think they envisioned taking."

see even here there is disagreement.Best go to the direct source.

ask cms,we are not the experts here at policy, or ask your legal dept where you work.

[Guest1201609]

I accidentally stumbled upon this thread, and I am sure that my comment will be deleted, but I wanted to say that this was done to me, along with holding down my legs, during cataract surgery, and it was traumatic as hell.  I am a psychiatric patient, with CPTSD, MDD, and GAD, but never assume that your psychiatric patients are incompetent, or that your same day surgery patients will not remember exactly what happened to them.  My eye was not numb when the doctor went in for the first cut on it so of course I twisted my head away and moved my legs which were then manually held down as another restraint, though my whole upper body was wrapped up like a bug in a spider web and couldn’t move.  Never assume that you are not traumatizing or retraumatizing your patients, and never assume that you and your colleagues could not be held accountable for your actions.  I strongly considered filing a complaint with my state’s medical board, or filing a complaint with the practice’s management.