Nurses' perceptions to physical restraints in medical wards
Okuefuna, Silas (2026)
2026
All rights reserved. This publication is copyrighted. You may download, display and print it for Your own personal use. Commercial use is prohibited.
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-202603063877
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-202603063877
Tiivistelmä
This study explored nurses’ perceptions of physical restraints’ use on patients in medical wards and their understanding of the legal, ethical, and institutional guidelines regulating same with the aim of improving the safety of care when applying physical restraints on patients.
The study was conducted at the medical wards of the internal medicine department of a central hospital in Finland. Using a qualitative research approach, data were collected through an electronic questionnaire completed by practical and registered nurses working in the selected wards. Thematic analysis of the responses revealed 5 themes thus; managing immediate risks through physical restraints; regulation of physical restraints; ethical dilemma in restraint use; ensuring patient safety when using restraints; and nurses’ responsibilities to restrained patients.
Findings from the research revealed that physical restraint is viewed as a last resort measure used to prevent harms, falls, or patients interfering with care or treatment. The participants showed awareness of the legal and institutional guidelines regulating physical restraints which required doctor’s authorization, proportionality, monitoring, and documentation. The research highlighted nurses’ emotional discomfort and ethical conflict due to physical restraints and the practical challenges impacting the decision to restrain.
The study was conducted at the medical wards of the internal medicine department of a central hospital in Finland. Using a qualitative research approach, data were collected through an electronic questionnaire completed by practical and registered nurses working in the selected wards. Thematic analysis of the responses revealed 5 themes thus; managing immediate risks through physical restraints; regulation of physical restraints; ethical dilemma in restraint use; ensuring patient safety when using restraints; and nurses’ responsibilities to restrained patients.
Findings from the research revealed that physical restraint is viewed as a last resort measure used to prevent harms, falls, or patients interfering with care or treatment. The participants showed awareness of the legal and institutional guidelines regulating physical restraints which required doctor’s authorization, proportionality, monitoring, and documentation. The research highlighted nurses’ emotional discomfort and ethical conflict due to physical restraints and the practical challenges impacting the decision to restrain.