What is the nurses job in regards to restraints in a nursing home?

[ArtofGrace]

Hi everyone! I am a Nursing student and am researching what a nurse does in regards to physical restraints in a nursing home. I haven't found really any information as to a detailed description of what a nurse's jobs would be.

Any advice or help would be greatly appreciated! :)

[gentlegiver, ASN, LPN, RN]

We have restraints, but, they are the type the patient can release. We have a release & stand/toilet order for every 2 hours. Chemical restraints are not allowed. The paperwork is absolutely insane to get the restraints and you need to document your life away to keep them. But, the alternative is hurt patients and tons of fall documentation along with Neuro's. If it protects my patients, I'll deal with the paperwork.

[sandygirl123, CNA]

This is probably one of the main reasons why I left the nursing homes. They have a right to fall is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard of! most of them are petrified of falling and hold on for deer life when you are trying to roll them. I don't know who ever thought of that slogan "they have a right to fall" and thought that it was helping them? I understand not to tie them down for hours that is inhumane to do to any living human being. But, a lap buddy, I once saw an adult walker which was pretty cool they could roll themselves around and not get hard. But, that is taking away their dignity I suppose. I worked in a nursing home that took away all of their side rails. All of the patents were upset because they were afraid of felling out of bed. A lot of them could not even help with transfers anymore. Where is the dignity in that? They have a right to be self sufficient and feel like they can still help themselves. I have always asked this question if they have a right to fall on their face, break a hip, crack their hands open, etc., why then can't they refuse a shower? Or refuse to get up in the am? Sometimes they don't want to get dressed when you tell your nursing supervision their response is get them up anyways or just get them dressed. I have worked in places that will allow them to stay in bed for breakfast but, make them get up for lunch. I once took care of this one lady who was in her late 90's. She NEVER wanted to get out of bed and would scream and carry on the whole time you were getting her up and the whole time she was up until someone lied her down. I know that one would say "well they don't get up them they could get sick and catch pneumonia. Yea that could happen but, someone could be seriously injured or even die or they would to have a nasty fall.

[CapeCodMermaid, RN]

Residents have the right to refuse anything---meds, baths, getting dressed. We let them decide for themselves. Believe me, most of them would NOT want to be straped into their wheelchair.

[BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN]

Not allowed in my facility. Not in any way, shape or form. This includes bed rails. Also, no tab alarms or chair alarms. Residents are free to fall, it is their "right".

[BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN]

Nope. Not where I work. No bed against the wall, no bed alarm. The most you can do is have bed in low position, call light within reach, encourage to ask for assistance.

If you work in a restraint free facility, the nursing role would be in plan and implement interventions to prohibit the incident from happening again. Like if you have a pt. that falls when they get out of bed, you could to a low bed against the wall with a bed alarm.

[motherof3sons]

We are a restraint free facility and although we don't prevent every fall we are proactive to reduce the number of falls. Lots of eyes on the high risk residents, low beds, scoop mattress and all those things. We look at patterns. If a resident is falling at certain times of day then we bring them to an area where staff can monitor closely.....just a few things we do.