Study: More nurses means less patient restraints
Nurse Leader Insider, September 8, 2016
Want to receive articles like this one in your inbox? Subscribe to Nurse Leader Insider!
The use of restraints to prevent patients from hurting themselves or disrupting medical equipment is a common practice in many hospitals, but it has come under scrutiny over the past few years. Last month, the Journal of General Internal Medicine published a study that investigated the use of patient restraints in hospital settings. Research has suggested that restraints can have many negative outcomes, from adverse psychological effects and confusion to strangulation, so the study authors sought to find ways to limit the use of restraints. Their advice? Increase nursing staff.
The study used data from over 900,000 patients over a five-year period, and they found a correlation between nursing staff levels and patient restraints. Hospitals that had a low number of registered nurses on duty were 11% more likely to use patient restraints, and hospitals that had a very low number were 18 percent more likely to rely on restraints. Additionally, hospitals with fewer nurses were more likely to use restraints as a means of fall prevention. The researchers point out that nurses are better trained to meet patient needs and prevent falls without using restraints, making them better suited to find alternatives to patient restraints compared to physicians. So keeping nurses properly staffed is the best way to ensure patients receive proper care.
You can read the full study here.
Want to receive articles like this one in your inbox? Subscribe to Nurse Leader Insider!
Related Products
-
Nursing Orientation Program Builder:
This binder and CD-ROM walk you through each step of a well-run orientation program so you can incorporate field-tested...
-
The Charge Nurse Leader Program Builder
This is the complete resource for creating a new program or revitalizing your existing training. It defines relevant...
-
Professional Growth in Staff Development:
Designed to progress staff development professionals along the learning continuum from novice to expert, this resource by...
-
Nurse Coaching and Mentoring: Set Expectations and Improve Staff Performance
Discover innovative, field-tested methods to coach your nursing staff during this 90-minute audio conference. Expert author...
-
The Survival of Staff Development
High-quality clinical care comes from high-quality education. Prove the value of your staff development program with help...
Most Popular
- Articles
-
- CMS puts hospital surveys on limited hold as surge continues
- Don't forget the three checks in medication administration
- Practice the six rights of medication administration
- Note similarities and differences between HCPCS, CPT® codes
- Q&A: Primary, principal, and secondary diagnoses
- The consequences of an incomplete medical record
- Skills of effective case managers
- Nursing responsibilities for managing pain
- OB services: Coding inside and outside of the package
- ICD-10-CM coma, stroke codes require more specific documentation
- E-mailed
-
- CMS puts hospital surveys on limited hold as surge continues
- Charge and bill Medicare all pre-operative diagnostic tests
- How to create a safety protocol for emergency department psychiatric patients
- Know guidelines and subtle differences in code descriptions for laceration repairs
- Injections and infusions continue to confuse coders
- Q&A: Mechanical room storage, risk assessments, patient rooms
- Peer review vs. risk management review: What's the difference?
- Modifier -25: Is that E/M service really above and beyond the norm?
- Long-Term Care Training Solutions
- Get the facts on emergency department FAST exams
- Searched