Abstract
The assistance of a pocket card allows nurses to identify all options quickly and impact the patient experience. ЕШЗ Literature Review * The American Nurses Association (2012) called for nurses to be leaders in reducing the use of restraints and helping to protect patients' autonomy and dignity. * Restraints contribute to increased risk of hospital-acquired infections, pressure ulcers, muscle atrophy, agitation, and altered cognitive states, as well as increased length of hospital stay (De Jonghe et al., 2013). * The prevalence of restraint use among hospitals internationally is 3%-25% in the inpatient setting (Kruger, Mayer, Haastert, & Meyer, 2013). * The aging population in the inpatient setting allows an increased risk of restraint application due to delirium or other confused states.The perception by healthcare workers is that restraint application alone can decrease falls, and prevent removal of tubes and lines (Lai, Chow, Suen, & Wong, 2013). * Restraint use can increase a patient's length of stay, which potentiates the patient's risk for infection and other negative outcomes (Cosper, Morelock, & Provine, 2015). * The use of alternatives and restraint-free care allow a respect for patient independence and an opportunity to continue working toward discharge (Luk et al., 2014). * Lack of education and availability of resources were identified as two leading causes of nonadherence to use of restraint alternatives (Barton-Gooden, Dawkins, & Bennett, 2015).Clinical Setting 34-bed telemetry unit and 13-bed medical intensive care unit in 397-bed community, inter-city teaching hospital in the midwestern United States Program Objectives * Participants report an increase in overall restraint alternative use identified by self-report on the posttest. * The education sessions meet the educational needs focused on restraint alternatives. * Participants have a statistically significant increase in comfort and knowledge in using restraint alternatives as evidenced by answers on the posttest.