title: Nurses' decision-making process in cases of physical restraint in acute elderly care: a qualitative study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The increasing vulnerability of patients in acute elderly care requires constant critical reflection in ethically charged situations such as when employing physical restraint. Qualitative evidence concerning nurses' decision making in cases of physical restraint is limited and fragmented. A thorough understanding of nurses' decision-making process could be useful to understand how nurses reason and make decisions in ethically laden situations.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aims of this study were to explore and describe nurses' decision-making process in cases of physical restraint.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used a qualitative interview design inspired by the Grounded Theory approach. Data analysis was guided by the Qualitative Analysis Guide of Leuven.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve hospitals geographically spread throughout the five provinces of Flanders, Belgium.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-one acute geriatric nurses interviewed between October 2009 and April 2011 were purposively and theoretically selected, with the aim of including nurses having a variety of characteristics and experiences concerning decisions on using physical restraint.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In cases of physical restraint in acute elderly care, nurses' decision making was never experienced as a fixed decision but rather as a series of decisions. Decision making was mostly reasoned upon and based on rational arguments; however, decisions were also made routinely and intuitively. Some nurses felt very certain about their decisions, while others experienced feelings of uncertainty regarding their decisions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nurses' decision making is an independent process that requires nurses to obtain a good picture of the patient, to be constantly observant, and to assess and reassess the patient's situation. Coming to thoughtful and individualized decisions requires major commitment and constant critical reflection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Catholic University College Ghent, Belgium. sabine.goethals@kahosl.be
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Goethals
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dierckx de Casterlé
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gastmans
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001530:Belgium; D003657:Decision Making; D005851:Geriatric Nursing; D006801:Humans; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012149:Restraint, Physical; D000078329:Workforce