Second Reflection: Application of Physical Restraints Assignment 2022

Running head: REFLECTIVE JOURNAL
REFLECTIVE JOURNAL
Name of the student:
Name of the university:
Author note:

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REFLECTIVE JOURNAL
Second reflection: application of physical restraints
Introduction:
Gibbs reflection cycle is one of the most famous models for reflection that is used by
nursing students and professionals to reflect on their experiences. It comprises of six stages and
suggests how a full structure analysis of an event can be done with the use of prompt questioning
in each of the six stages. This assignment would utilise Gibbs reflection cycle for reflecting on
the incident and developing ideas about what went wrong and how it can be developed in the
future.
Description:
During the time of placement, I got the opportunity to serve patients not only with
different disorders but also of various natures. I had gained valuable experiences while tackling
different types of patients. One specific experience that had scared me was treating an aggressive
patient who had suffered from heart disorder and was under treatment. After admission, he was
found to be suffering from metal instabilities as well and therefore, he was supposed to be shifted
to the psychiatric ward after his heart condition would have stabilized. On one night, I had
approached him for his warfarin dose when suddenly he became aggressive and threw away the
medicine tray away from my hand. He was going to attack one of the nurse aides to which I
immediately shouted for help. I ordered the healthcare ward aides to put physical restraint on the
patient. When I arrived n my next allocated shift, the ward supervisor summoned me. I came to
know that he had faced bruises in different sections of the body and even had complained of ill-
treatment and abuse. He requested the authority to change him to another healthcare organization
as soon as possible.

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REFLECTIVE JOURNAL
Feelings:
I was embarrassed when the ward supervisor told me that I had undertaken an unsafe
practice for which the patient was not only hurt physically but also mentally and emotionally. I
felt upset thinking that I still have not developed enough competencies to provide best quality
and safe care to the patients. I also felt guilty thinking that my suggested intervention had
actually resulted in physical and emotional harm of the patient and that I would not follow the
nursing bioethical principles of beneficence and non-maleficence.
Evaluation:
The bad part of the incident was that I applied physical restraint on the patient that had
affected him physically, emotionally and mentally. Physical restraints can be defined as the hard
form of coercion that is observed in the healthcare inpatient settings. Studies severely criticize
the application of physical restraints as they associate them with physical injury as well as even
death because of dehydration, choking as well as circulatory and skin problems (Abraham et al.
2019). This also associated with loss of mobility and strength as well as incontinence and injury
from forcibly trying to get freed from the restraint. Huge numbers of negative outcomes are
associated with these unsafe practices. Some of the psychological and emotional effects that are
found to be associated are feelings of humiliation as well as loss of dignity along with
diminished quality of life (Hofmann et al. 2015). Patients are seen to suffer from increased stress
as well as confusion and fear. Depression, withdrawal, isolation as well as desolation, loss of
hope and internal motivation are found to be also presented in affected patients. Patients also
suffer from anger, frustration and demoralization along with increased agitation, hostility as well
as aggression and learned dependence. I have learnt that application of the restraint resulted in