Physical Restraint Use Associated with RN Staffing

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Patient Safety
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Patient restraint use remains a concern in healthcare settings.
• Fluctuating patient loads can impact staffing needs and patient care.
• The effectiveness of non-registered nurse (RN) staffing additions is under investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if increasing non-RN nursing staff impacts patient restraint use during high patient load periods.
• To evaluate the efficacy of supplemental staffing in reducing physical restraint application.

Main Methods:

• A study was conducted examining patient restraint data.
• Non-RN nursing staff were added to units experiencing fluctuating patient census.
• Restraint use rates were compared before and after the staffing intervention.

Main Results:

• The addition of non-RN nursing staff did not significantly decrease the incidence of patient restraint use.
• No statistically significant difference was observed in restraint application rates with the supplemental staffing.

Conclusions:

• Supplemental non-RN nursing staff are not an effective strategy for reducing patient restraint use.
• Alternative or additional interventions may be necessary to address and reduce patient restraint application in fluctuating patient load environments.