Final answer:
Nurses should remove wrist restraints every 2 hours for at least 10 minutes to check circulation, skin integrity, and to allow for range-of-motion exercises, ensuring the patient's safety and reducing the risk of complications.
Step-by-step explanation:
When caring for a patient who requires wrist restraints, it is essential to follow proper guidelines to ensure the patient's safety and well-being. Current best practices suggest that restraints should be removed and circulation checked every 2 hours. During this time, it is also important to provide range-of-motion exercises to avoid muscle atrophy and joint stiffness. This routine should include at least 10 minutes of freedom from restraints, which allows for the skin integrity to be checked and reduces the risk of complications associated with restraint use, such as pressure ulcers or nerve damage. Patient assessment at regular intervals is crucial to determine if the restraints remain necessary or if they can be discontinued.