A second-year practical nursing student asks about restraints. Which of the following is not considered a restraint category?

A second-year practical nursing student asks about restraints. Which of the following is not considered a restraint category?

• A. Chemical
• B. Physical
• C. Hazardous
• D. Environmental

Answer: (C)

Restraint approaches in nursing are grouped into chemical, physical, and environmental methods used to enhance safety by limiting a client’s movement or access. A hazardous designation isn’t a restraint category because it describes a safety risk or danger, not a method of restraint. So chemical restraints involve medications to control agitation, physical restraints involve devices that restrict movement, and environmental restraints involve changes to the setting to reduce risk. Remember that restraints should be used only when clearly necessary, with an order and ongoing assessment, and after trying less restrictive options.

Restraint approaches in nursing are grouped into chemical, physical, and environmental methods used to enhance safety by limiting a client’s movement or access. A hazardous designation isn’t a restraint category because it describes a safety risk or danger, not a method of restraint. So chemical restraints involve medications to control agitation, physical restraints involve devices that restrict movement, and environmental restraints involve changes to the setting to reduce risk. Remember that restraints should be used only when clearly necessary, with an order and ongoing assessment, and after trying less restrictive options.