Which statement accurately describes restraints use in the hospital?

• A. Use restraints only when less restrictive measures fail with physician order, ongoing evaluation, and regular reassessment; monitor safety and rights.
• B. They can be used whenever a patient is agitated.
• C. They do not require monitoring.
• D. They can be removed only by physician order.

Answer: (A)

Restraints should be used only after less restrictive measures have failed and there is a physician’s order, with ongoing evaluation and regular reassessment to determine continued need. The focus is on safety and protecting the patient’s rights. This approach ensures you first try de‑escalation and environment-based strategies, obtain proper authorization, and continuously monitor for efficacy and potential harm. Staff must routinely check the patient's condition, ensure circulation and skin integrity, monitor vital signs, and reassess the need for restraint, removing it as soon as the patient can be safely managed without it. Using restraints simply because someone is agitated, or applying them without monitoring, or removing them only by physician order, does not align with proper practice.