How often must you or an assistant check on a patient who is restrained?

Choice A rationale:

Confine the fire by closing doors and windows. Rationale: While confining the fire is essential, the nurse's first priority should be the safety of the client. Closing doors and windows can wait. The nurse should focus on immediate actions to ensure the client's safety.

Choice B rationale:

Activate the fire alarm system. Rationale: Activating the fire alarm system is crucial to alert others in the healthcare facility about the fire. This action ensures a timely response from the fire department and other staff members, enhancing overall safety within the facility.

Choice C rationale:

Extinguish the fire if possible. Rationale: Attempting to extinguish the fire might lead to delay, especially if the nurse is not trained to handle fires properly. Moreover, the nurse's safety is paramount, and attempting to put out the fire could put the nurse at risk. Prioritizing the client's immediate rescue is the best course of action.

Choice D rationale:

Rescue the client from immediate danger. Rationale: The correct action for the nurse to take first is to rescue the client from immediate danger. This may involve helping the client out of the room or moving them away from the source of the fire. Ensuring the client's safety is the top priority, and all other actions should follow after this.

Choice A rationale:

Checking a restrained patient every 45 minutes might be too frequent and could interfere with the patient's rest and comfort, especially if the restraint is necessary for their safety. It could also lead to increased agitation and resistance from the patient, making it more challenging for the healthcare providers to manage the situation effectively.

Choice B rationale:

Checking on a restrained patient every 30 minutes is also too frequent for the reasons mentioned above. Patients need some time to rest and recover, and constant monitoring might be perceived as intrusive and threatening, potentially escalating the situation.

Choice C rationale:

Checking on a restrained patient every hour might not be sufficient, especially if the patient is at high risk of harming themselves or others. Waiting for an hour between checks could lead to dangerous situations, as a lot can happen in that time frame.

Choice D rationale:

Checking on a restrained patient every 2 hours strikes a balance between ensuring the patient's safety and respecting their privacy and comfort. It allows healthcare providers to monitor the patient's condition and intervene promptly if necessary while also giving the patient some space to rest and recover.