Korean J Schizophr Res.  2018 Apr;21(1):1-8. 10.16946/kjsr.2018.21.1.1.

Nursing Strategy for Use of Seclusion and Restraint in Psychiatric Hospitals

• Sung JE
• Kim SJ
• Kim SH
• Kim SW

• KMID: 2410774
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.16946/kjsr.2018.21.1.1

Abstract

Although seclusion and restraint are required for the treatment of mentally ill patients in psychiatric hospitals, these procedures involve potential violations of human rights and pose a potential risk to patients' physical condition. Nursing staffs in psychiatric hospitals often have to manage psychiatric patients who display aggressive, violent, or challenging behavior. However, the guidelines for the use of seclusion and restraint in Korea are too broad to apply in clinical situations. The guidelines in the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand emphasize that patients' basic needs have to be met and stipulate that patient-staff interaction must be continued during seclusion and restraint procedures. Mental health workers in psychiatric hospitals should pay close attention to patients' verbal and non-verbal expressions while communicating with them. This study reviews the guidelines for seclusion and restraint used in foreign countries to improve current Korean guidelines and provides strategies of the nursing activities to be implemented when patients require seclusion and restraint.

Keyword

Seclusion; Restraint; Psychiatric hospital; Psychiatric nursing; Nursing guideline

MeSH Terms

Australia
Great Britain
Hospitals, Psychiatric*
Human Rights
Humans
Korea
Mental Health
Mentally Ill Persons
New Zealand
Nursing Staff
Nursing*
Psychiatric Nursing
United States