[Utilization of seclusion. Motives and reasons of nurses]

Seclusion is one of several possible interventions with which patients and health care professionals can be confronted on units for admission and crisis intervention in mental health care institutions. The way in which psychiatric nurses shape their practice with regard to seclusion and how they experience this intervention is unclear. The goal of this study is to describe this practice. The results render insight in the motives and reasons of nurses for use of seclusion, the content of the term emergency situation, the way in which decisions to seclude are taken and which interventions can be labelled as preventive. Finally conclusions are given and the questions raised in this study are discussed.