Nursing interventions during seclusion and mechanical restraint: A video-observation study in inpatient psychiatric care

Abstract

<p><em>Purpose</em>. To understand nursing practice in seclusion and mechanical restraint events in psychiatric inpatient care. <br></p><p><em>Design and Methods</em>. Non-participant video observation was used to collect data from seclusion and mechanical restraint events. Nursing interventions were analysed using deductive content analysis. <br></p><p><em>Findings</em>. Video recordings (<em>n</em> = 36) showed that nurses were present for 4.1% of the duration of seclusion and mechanical restraint events. The nursing interventions focused on meeting patients’ basic needs, maintaining safety, and interaction. <br></p><p><em>Practice Implications</em>. Nursing must be founded on a thorough assessment of patients’ physical and psychosocial needs and meeting those needs with appropriate nursing interventions.</p>