What standard ensures safety and rights when using restraints?

• A. Restraints Should Be Used Without Physician Involvement
• B. Restraints Can Be Used Indefinitely Without Monitoring
• C. Restraints Must Be Used With Physician Orders, Continuous Monitoring, and Time Limits
• D. Restraints Require No Review

Answer: (C)

The standard balances safety with patient rights by requiring restraints to be used only under medical oversight, with ongoing observation and clear time boundaries. In practice, this means a physician or licensed practitioner must provide an order that specifies the reason, type of restraint, and duration. The patient must be continuously monitored to detect physical risks (like circulation, skin integrity, breathing, and comfort) and to reassess the need for the restraint as the situation evolves. Time limits ensure restraints aren’t used longer than necessary and that renewal or removal is regularly reviewed, with attempts made to use the least restrictive approach first. This framework protects patients from unnecessary harm while giving clinicians the authority and accountability to justify restraint use.