Israeli student nurses' attitudes about physical restraints in acute care settings

A total of 147 nursing students from an academic school of nursing in Israel, affiliated with the Nursing Department at Tel Aviv University, were studied to determine their attitudes toward the use of physical restraints, their knowledge of patient restraint protocol, related reasons, alternatives, follow-up, and reporting. Data were analyzed according to the student's year of learning and experience in restraining. Significant results showed that most students displayed negative attitudes toward restraining. Most were quite knowledgeable of patient restraint protocol, but they acted according to accepted practice in the hospital wards. These findings suggest that nursing educators must play an important role in reinforcing knowledge and improving the practicum of nursing students in the clinical area concerning restraints. This goal will be achieved by various educational strategies.