Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services
Vol. 48 No. 7 July 2010
By Gwen Bonner, PhD, RMN, MSc, BA (Hons.), PG Dip Ed; Nigel Wellman, MSc, BA, RMN
ABSTRACT
Management of violence and aggression remains a challenge to mental health care practitioners. It has been acknowledged that for a small number of incidents involving aggression, use of restraint will continue to be a method of containing potentially dangerous situations. The impact of being involved in these procedures remains underresearched, but there is growing acknowledgment that some form of postincident review should take place after restraint use. As part of a larger study, a survey design was used to evaluate whether staff (n = 30) and inpatients (n = 30) had found postincident review helpful after incidents involving restraint. Ninety-seven percent of staff, and 94% of patient participants agreed this approach was useful. This article presents the findings of this survey and discusses the complex factors that should be considered when reviewing the aftermath of restraint for staff and inpatients in acute mental health settings.
AUTHOR
Dr. Bonner is Nurse Consultant, Berkshire Healthcare National Health Service Foundation Trust, Department of Mental Health, Heatherwood Hospital, Ascot, Berkshire, and Mr. Wellman is Professor, Thames Valley University, London, United Kingdom.
The authors disclose that they have no significant financial interests in any product or class of products discussed directly or indirectly in this activity, including research support.
Address correspondence to Gwen Bonner, PhD, RMN, MSc, BA (Hons.), PG Dip Ed, Nurse Consultant, Berkshire Healthcare National Health Service Foundation Trust, Department of Mental Health, Heatherwood Hospital, London Road, Ascot, Berkshire, United Kingdom; e-mail: gwen.bonner@berkshire.nhs.uk.
Received: September 14, 2009
Accepted: February 16, 2010
Posted: May 21, 2010
doi:10.3928/02793695-20100504-05
