Reducing restraints. Impact on staff attitudes.

1. Changing the practice of using physical restraints must include nursing staff members as one of the main targets for change. 2. Following education and the implementation of a restraint-reduction program, 58% of the nursing staff participants found restraint use to be less important in caring for the elderly. Changes were more significant, however, immediately after the mandatory inservice program. 3. Nursing staff members whose perceptions changed tended to be registered nurses or licensed practical nurses who had more years of experience and more seniority at work. 4. The provision of ongoing education to nursing staff members is a necessary step to decrease feelings of frustration and stress and to assist the staff in being aware of alternatives to restraints.