Question

An individual was placed in restraints prior to mealtime for aggression towards others. What should the nurse do regarding their meal?

a. Release the restraints for the individual to eat their meal, then place them back in when the meal is completed.
b. Hold the meal for the client so they may eat when they are removed from restraints.
c. Remove the utensils from the meal tray and serve the rest of the meal.
d. Ask for another meal the client can eat with their hands.

Answer 1

The nurse should assess the individual and potentially release them from restraints for mealtime if it's safe, or provide a meal they can eat with their hands while restrained if safety is a concern.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse should assess the individual's behavior and determine if it is safe to remove the restraints for mealtime. If the aggression has subsided and the individual can safely eat without posing a risk to themselves or others, then they may be released from restraints to eat their meal. The nurse can then closely supervise the meal to ensure safety. If there is still a significant concern for safety, an alternative option such as option d, asking for another meal the client can eat with their hands, may be pursued while keeping the restraints in place. Tools like utensils that could potentially be used aggressively should be removed. Ultimately, the goal is to balance the need for safety with the individual's right to eat and nutrition, ensuring that the approach is humane and respectful.