Restraints may be used only under which condition?

Restraints may be used only under which condition?

• A. As punishment from staff when a resident is not behaving properly
• B. Only with a doctor's order
• C. When a staff member does not have time to watch a resident closely
• D. When an NA judges a resident is a danger to himself or others

Answer: (B)

Restraints are a medical intervention that can limit a resident’s movement, so they are not permitted to be used at staff discretion. The requirement of a doctor's order ensures a professional evaluation of the risk, identifies the least restrictive option, and clearly sets the limits on how long the restraint can be used and how the resident must be monitored. In practice, staff must follow the physician’s order, verify that it specifies the type of restraint, the location, and the duration, and ensure ongoing assessment to determine whether the restraint is still needed. The order is typically renewed, and the resident is monitored for safety, comfort, circulation, skin integrity, and range of motion, with attempts made to use less restrictive measures first. Restraints should never be used as punishment, for convenience, or based on staff judgment alone.

Restraints are a medical intervention that can limit a resident’s movement, so they are not permitted to be used at staff discretion. The requirement of a doctor's order ensures a professional evaluation of the risk, identifies the least restrictive option, and clearly sets the limits on how long the restraint can be used and how the resident must be monitored. In practice, staff must follow the physician’s order, verify that it specifies the type of restraint, the location, and the duration, and ensure ongoing assessment to determine whether the restraint is still needed. The order is typically renewed, and the resident is monitored for safety, comfort, circulation, skin integrity, and range of motion, with attempts made to use less restrictive measures first. Restraints should never be used as punishment, for convenience, or based on staff judgment alone.