Exploring mental health nurses' experiences of administering chemical restraint in an acute care setting

While there is a growing body of research available on general restraint intervention in acute adult psychiatric settings, relatively little is known about nurses’ experiences of administering chemical restraint. The research question explored in this study was: what are mental health nurses’ experiences of using chemical restraint interventions in times of behavioural emergency on adult inpatient acute mental health units? Eight adult acute inpatient mental health nurses were interviewed using van Manen’s hermeneutic phenomenological method. Six themes emerged from the data analysis: using all the tools in the toolbox, taking control to maintain safety, using therapeutic intervention, working within constraints, making medication choices, and transitioning from novice to expert. Through this Canadian study understanding of direct care nurses’ first-hand experiences of the use of chemical restraint interventions was sought. Integral ways that nurses make meaning from administering chemical restraint were found, as well as some of the complex clinical and ethical decision-making aspects involved in psychiatric nursing care. Implications for practice, education, and policy are discussed, along with suggestions for future research.Includes bibliographical references (pages 86-98). "In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Psychiatric Nursing.