Chemical restraint involves the use of psychotropic drugs or sedatives or paralytic agents. Physical restraint involves the use of physical or mechanical devices to restrain movement. The use of Chemical, Physical or Mechanical restraints has for decades been coming under scrutiny. Restraint use has been strongly tied to abuse, misuse, death and injury. For the Nurse, the use of restraints, minimizes the chances of a patient injuring themselves or others.
Judicious use can assist in maintaining control of an otherwise uncontrollable patient.
Many a nurse has been injured in the line of duty because a facility either did not support restraint use, a family member may have objected or a physician simply refused to write an order for them. Patients and staff in mental hospitals have a right to be free from violent assault, but it must be balanced against the right of patients to be free of unnecessary medication and seclusion. When faced with this situation in an already dangerously short-staffed unit, you have a recipe for disaster. The other called for their use at all times to provide for the patient's safety. This was a new patient to the facility and no previous history was provided aside from what was on the transfer documentation.