Restrain Me

Restraints are increasingly unpopular and politically incorrect.  There's a big nationwide push get rid of restraints in hospitals.

But, nurses don't tie down little old ladies for thrills.  For one thing, it's a lot of documentation--restraints have to be charted on by the nurse every two hours and reordered by the physician every 24 hours.  Patients don't like being restrained and the family members are stressed to see their loved one tied down.  

So, why do nurses do this legally risky, unpopular thing?  The most common reason restraints are used is that the patient is on a ventilator.  The ventilator is a breathing machine that is SAVING THE PATIENT'S LIFE EVERY MINUTE. 

 

Every minute.

 

Imagine having a tube the size of your little finger shoved all the way down your throat.  It makes you gag; you feel like you're choking; you can't talk.  Your immediate impulse is to pull the damned thing out.   That's why ventilated patients are restrained.  We're not punishing them.  We're keeping them safe.

I have heard of hospitals that don't restrain or sedate ventilated patients.  Frankly, I just don't believe that.  Unless every one of their intubated patients has a sitter or is chemically or physically paralyzed they are going to self-extubate.  It's a normal response when something obstructs your airway to want to remove it. 

If a patient pulls out their breathing tube they can die.  We would have FAILED to keep the patient safe.  

What will you say to the judge?  (Because the wrongful death lawsuit WILL go to a judge)  

 

"I didn't restrain them because of the political climate"?