Is there a difference between bed rails and side rails?

[tavia_yeung]

I'm just wondering are bed rails and side rails mean the same or different thing. I know that side rails are used to restrain the pt or for their safety. So how about bed rails? I know it's a dumb question but please let me know it..

[fuzzywuzzy, CNA]

They're the same thing, as far as I know. There's a possibility they could be referring to different types of rails, but I don't think so. My coworkers and I all use those terms interchangeably, and we have a couple different types of beds in my facility.

[NurseCubanitaRN2b, BSN, RN]

Actually it's not a dumb question, but I never thought of it as being anything different. It's actually the samething. Both are considered restraints. Sometimes if you have the four side/bed rails up, that's considered restraining a patient. You can have 3 of the 4 up and it not be considered a restraint. But if the rails are fully up, then it's a restraint. But that's here in California and I don't know it's viewed as in different states.