Formulating a restraint use policy

When the federal government notified Canadian hospital administrators that several deaths had resulted from improper application of physical restraints, we decided to examine our nursing practice in relation to restraint use. The government communiqué indicated that at any one time, up to 10% of a hospital's patient population may be using some form of restraint. A hospital-wide survey indicated that 13.2% of our patients were managed with physical restraints and that insufficient documentation occurred. This was interpreted as a significant clinical-administrative problem and we recognized the need for a formal policy. Other adult care facilities can benefit from our experience in solving this dilemma.