The nurse is educating a client with insomnia how to promote better sleep. Which interventions should she include for this client? (Select all that apply).

Use them only as a last resort after attempting alternatives and get an order to do so. This is because restraints are used to protect persons from harming themselves or others, but they can also cause injuries, falls, and death. Therefore, they should be used only when less restrictive measures fail to protect the person or others, and only with informed consent and a doctor’s order.

Choice A is wrong because restraints should not be secured to the bed rails, but to the movable part of the bed frame out of the person’s reach.

This prevents the person from getting entangled or injured by the restraints.

Choice B is wrong because restraints should not be used for staff convenience or to control or prevent a behavior. They should be used only for the immediate physical safety of the person or others.

Choice C is wrong because restraints should not be applied to clients who have a history of violence or a previous fall for everyone’s protection. They should be used only when there is a clear and present danger of harm to the person or others.

Normal ranges for restraints are:

• Check the person at least every 15 minutes
• Remove restraints and meet basic needs at least every 2 hours
• Apply restraints so that they are snug but allow enough room to fit one finger between the restraint and the wrist

An idiosyncratic drug effect is an unpredictable and uncommon reaction to a drug that is not related to the dose, the pharmacology, or the patient’s allergy or intolerance. It may be caused by genetic factors, metabolic abnormalities, or interactions with other drugs or substances. An example of an idiosyncratic drug effect is paradoxical agitation or excitement after receiving a sedative.

B. A toxic drug effect is a harmful reaction to a drug that is related to the dose or the pharmacology of the drug. It may cause symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, confusion, or respiratory depression. A toxic drug effect is unlikely to cause agitation after receiving a sedative unless there is an overdose or a drug interaction that increases the level of the sedative in the blood.

C. An allergic drug response is an immunological reaction to a drug that is not related to the dose or the pharmacology of the drug. It may cause symptoms such as rash, itching, swelling, fever, or anaphylaxis. An allergic drug response is unlikely to cause agitation after receiving a sedative unless there is a severe anaphylactic reaction that affects the brain or the circulation.

D. An unexpected drug interaction is a modification of the effect of one drug by another drug or substance that is not predictable based on their pharmacology. It may cause an increase or a decrease in the efficacy or toxicity of one or both drugs. An unexpected drug interaction may cause agitation after receiving a sedative if there is a synergistic effect that enhances the central nervous system stimulation of another drug or substance (such as caffeine, cocaine, or amphetamines) or if there is an antagonistic effect that reduces the central nervous system depression of the sedative (such as flumazenil, naloxone, or physostigmine). However, these interactions are usually known and avoidable by checking the patient’s history and medication list.