Administer PRN medications as needed. Avoid psychological upset to other patients. Provide distraction and touch. Provide on-going nursing assessment. Document use of restraints.
Nurses play an important role in the practice of using physical restraints in children.
Until more research is available, nurses need to carefully assess the children in their care and apply the nursing process in the use of restraints. See Chapter 27 in Nursing Care of Infants and Children , 5th and 6th editions. See Chapter 22 in Essentials of Pediatric Nursing , 5th edition.