Hi, Just wanted to ask a question about restraints or lack of in the UK.
I have been out of the UK for 6 months now (in Florida now) and have been out of hospital nursing for 12 years so hence my question:
"How you do manage to stop patients who are confused etc from falling out of bed, or pulling at their IV's etc with not having the use of restraints?"
I have found since studying for the NCLEX exam to nurse in the USA and now working here too the use of restraints is common place with the appropriate protocols etc etc. During my orientation the Nurse Educator was fascinated to learn how UK nursing differs to US nursing...and when we told her that we arent allowed to use restraints she was gobsmacked...lol
But as I said I have been out of the hospital enviroment for 12 years and wondered how you manage...
(To be honest I dont like the use of some of the restraints.)
I have witnessed pt's over here removing the restraints very easily and pts still fall. They do not seem to be the answer, I believe that a pt will if he/she wants to be able to get out of bed and go wandering if their will is great enough.The only thing that seems to work is a sitter who will watch the pt and calm them down. If they want to pull out their lines and tubes they will, nothing will stop them except sedation.
Specializes in Stroke Rehab, Elderly, Rehab. Ortho.
Mostly our patients are still nursed on long, Nightingale wards which helps. Some hospitals have bays of 4-6 patients & then other patients often alert you to a problem. For those in single rooms, it's just luck I'm afraid.
QUOTE]
This is where it is great ona nightingale ward. NO the unit I am working on there are 23 single rooms and this makes obseration very difficult....thanks for all your replies.....
From what I understand from my friends in ICU, some critical care units have started using physical restraints. Not quite sure how I feel about them having never nursed anyone with them. If a pateint continually pulls out IV cannula I would use some other form of access (sub cut or oral) obviously if this is possible. As for falls there is evidence that sedation increases the risk of falls, I have no problem nursing patients on a mattress on the floor, this is basic risk managment, it is difficult if you dont have cubicles available as it is not pleasent for the other patients but minimises the risk if a patient is likely to try to get out of bed and fall.
Specializes in Surgical, Breastcare, Minor ops, OPD.
Hi, in our hospital we nurse confused patients prone to falls on mattress on the floor. If they are having IV's they tend to be canulated in the foot, surgical stockings or socks over the top if bandageing is not working. We also have beds with cot sides but this can make the fall worse if you have a climber. Its much safer to nurse on the floor but plays hell on the nurses back!
In theory I do not like the idea of restraints, but recently a pt was bought into the ed restrained by the paramedics as the pt was trying to hit her on the journey to hospital, (pt was ? head injury + etoh) on arrival the pt basically continuosly threatened staff and threatened to break our necks as soon as he was untied, funny enough we didnt untie him until the police arived!! assault or personal safety??
madwife2002, BSN, RN
26 Articles; 4,777 Posts
I have witnessed pt's over here removing the restraints very easily and pts still fall. They do not seem to be the answer, I believe that a pt will if he/she wants to be able to get out of bed and go wandering if their will is great enough.The only thing that seems to work is a sitter who will watch the pt and calm them down. If they want to pull out their lines and tubes they will, nothing will stop them except sedation.