Restraints
Evans Memorial Hospital strives for a restraint free
environment that promotes and enhances the
individual’s rights and dignity. Family or significant
others provide valuable information regarding
comfort and security measures for the guest. The
best way to keep a guest out of a restraining device
is to surround them with people they know and
love. We encourage families to visit us as often as
they can, and provide diversional activities that have
been known to calm the patient. Comfort measures
are routine aspects of nursing care. These are
situations in which restraints may be used:
• Prevention of harm to self and others
• Safe completion of therapies and treatments
• Promotion of personal safety of the patient due to
severe confusion.
The staff at Evans Memorial Hospital attempt to
utilize the least restrictive measures possible to
maintain safety. In the event that a restraining
device is considered necessary, a family member or
significant person will be informed. The nurse may
request that a family member or significant other
assist in the de-escalation of anxiety and confusion
by being present at the bedside. If the anxiety or
confusion continues to present a safety concern, it
may become necessary to implement a restraining
device. Each guest’s situation is viewed individually
and restraining devices are removed as soon as
safety risks are lessened. Guests are monitored and
assessed frequently. Comfort measures are provided
with position changes, fluids, toileting, food, and
circulatory checks on a scheduled basis. If you have
questions or concerns, please discuss them with a
nurse.
Fall Prevention
The nursing staff has the following suggestions to
help you avoid a fall during your hospitalization:
• If the nurse has instructed you to call for assistance
before getting out of bed, please do so.
• Put on slippers with nonskid soles while walking.
• Ask for help if you feel weak, dizzy, or light-headed
when you need to get up.
• Use the call switch (pull string) in the bathroom if
you become weak or need assistance back to the
bed.
• Notify the nursing staff if a spill occurs on the floor.
• Ask to have objects such as bedside tables, phone,
and call lights within your easy reach if you are not
able to reach them.
• Never hesitate to use the nurse call system for
assistance.
• If the side rails on your bed are in the “up” position,
they are there for your protection and to assist you
in turning.
• Please do not try to get out of a wheelchair by
yourself.
Patient Safety
EMH is committed to creating a culture of safety
that encourages the prevention and reporting of
errors to improve care. Hospital leaders are actively
involved in activities to improve quality of care
and communicate with patients and families when
problems occur.
The more healthcare information you have, the
better you are at preventing errors and taking care of
yourself. You need to ask your pharmacists, doctors,
and nurses about your illnesses. Find out all that you
can about your illness and the medications you are
taking. What you learn will help protect you later.
Your doctors, nurses, and pharmacists work hard to
keep you healthy, but you are also responsible.
Error Prevention
Some of the innovative methods that hospitals are
implementing include:
• Computer technology and preprinted forms
are being used to make sure that physician’s
orders are not mistaken or misinterpreted.
Abbreviations that have been identified as
confusing and problem prone are not used.
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For your Safety