Nursing Ethics: Patient Restraints, Ethical Principles, and Strategies

This assignment explores nursing ethics, focusing on the ethical principles surrounding patient restraints in healthcare settings, particularly within an emergency department scenario. It examines the importance of the nursing code of ethics, emphasizing patient dignity, respect, and the promotion of fundamental rights. The essay presents a case study where physical restraints were considered necessary due to patient behavior and the limited resources available. It analyzes the nurses' responsibilities in such situations, highlighting the need to balance patient safety and ethical considerations. The assignment then discusses alternative strategies to physical restraints, such as mechanical restraints, to ensure ethical compliance and patient well-being. References to relevant literature and codes of ethics support the discussion, offering insights into best practices for patient care and ethical decision-making in nursing.

Running head: NURSING ETHICS
NURSING ETHICS
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author note

1NURSING ETHICS
Author note

2NURSING ETHICS
Introduction
The code of ethics for nursing professionals in Australia is a guideline that helps to
provide a framework to the healthcare professionals. this helps to comply with the United
Nations human rights and social and cultural rights (Storch et al., 2013). In this assignment,
relating with the given case study, ethical principles for physical restraining the patients will be
discussed. Further alternative ways to eliminate the physical restrain from the process of patient
control will be discussed in this section.
Ethical principles
The ethical code of nursing practice is an important guideline for practice as it helps to
uphold the patient’s dignity, respect, and helps to promote the fundamental rights of them while
receiving care in the healthcare facility (Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, 2018).
Further, in this fundamental rights, the right of nursing professionals are also taken care of.
While working in the emergency department of the hospital, where all the beds are occupied with
critically ill patients, it is challenging to take equal care of each patient (Staunton & Chiarella,
2017). Further, a situation arises where while collecting sample from Mrs. Stock, Mr. Bogg
started yelling that created a chaos in the ED as me, RN moss and RN Pine were busy in
collecting sample (Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, 2018). Therefore, physical
restrain were the only option available to calm the patients. However, according to the code of
ethics nurses should value respect and kindness for their patients and others. Moreover,
according to the code of ethics, if any trait of a patient seems harmful for other patients staying
in the same ward, it is the responsibility of the nursing professionals to calm the patient.

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According to Cadore et al., (2014), using physical restrain for the benefit of the patient as it helps
to provide security to other patients staying at the same ward.
Nurses responsibilities
The situation presented in the case study is difficult to maintain as both the patients, who
have become vulnerable while the care process are critically ill and are not being able to stay
stable on their own. Mrs. Stock has symptoms of urinary infection whereas Mr. Bogg has head
injury while intoxication. Therefore, they both require nursing assistance. However, while taking
sample of mid-stream urination of Mrs. Stock, I, RN pine and RN moss were busy holding Mrs.
Stock, when Mr. Bogg started yelling due to intoxication and needed intravenous sedation.
Therefore according to nursing ethics, we should provide healthcare treatment to patient in need.
Whereas, in situations like this is our duty to manage the situation through thorough information,
to create a healthy and sustainable environment for patient growth (Johnstone, 2015). Hence,
physical restrain of Mr. Bogg was important so that we can collect sample from Mrs. Stock and
start her medical treatment. However, we also maintained the ethical value and respect of other
patient present in the ED ward as if physical restrain was not applied, Mr. Bogg could have
harmed other patients too. Hence, we practiced kindness and were committed to our duties
towards Mrs. Stock and other patients according to the nursing ethics value statement 2 (Nursing
and Midwifery Board of Australia, 2018). However, this practice of physical restrain should have
been replaced with other acts so that ethical code two, stating valuing and respecting each patient
can be followed.

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Strategies
In the nursing practice, there are five type of patient restrains are used including physical,
chemical, mechanical, technological and psychological restrains. These restrains are not a
solution. However, this can help the nursing professions to calm and control patients so that
sustainable healthcare environment can be maintained (Johnstone, 2015). In the given case study
we used physical restrain to control the patient however using mechanical restrain could be a
better replacement of physical replacement. Further it will help the professional to comply with
the nursing code of ethics. Using a ‘Posey Vest’ with a zip at the back and clothes tied to each
side of it, so that patients hand and legs can be moved freely. It is useful as it helps to restrict the
patient from moving and does not apply any physical restrain (Thompson et al., 2006).
Conclusion
As a nursing professional, provide care to each individual equally is the prime aspect of
care however, while practicing this, each nursing professional faces several difficulties. In this
assignment, such difficulty of nursing professional were discussed with example of a ED ward
scenario, where two vulnerable patients had to provided nursing assistance at the same time.
Further, the assignment discussed the ethical ground using which the physical restrain was used
to calm a patient. Furthermore, usage of other restrain techniques to control the patient was also
discussed.

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References
Cadore, E. L., Moneo, A. B. B., Mensat, M. M., Muñoz, A. R., Casas-Herrero, A., Rodriguez-
Mañas, L., & Izquierdo, M. (2014). Positive effects of resistance training in frail elderly
patients with dementia after long-term physical restraint. Age, 36(2), 801-811.
Lachman, V. D. (2012). Applying the ethics of care to your nursing practice. Medsurg
Nursing, 21(2), 112.
Ludwick, R., O’Toole, R., & Meehan, A. (2012). Restraints or alternatives: safety work in care
of older persons. International journal of older people nursing, 7(1), 11-19.
Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia. (2018). Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia -
Code of ethics. Nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au. Retrieved 23 March 2018, from
http://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/Codes-Guidelines-Statements/Professional-
standards.aspx
Storch, J., Makaroff, K. S., Pauly, B., & Newton, L. (2013). Take me to my leader: the
importance of ethical leadership among formal nurse leaders. Nursing ethics, 20(2), 150-
157.