Does your mother have extreme confusion and does she have any IV fluids running? Often patients who are confused pull these out. Does she have a naso gastric tube in place? If these are pulled it can result in dangerous problems. In confusion patients will often pull at a foley catheter in place to drain urine, will contaminate dressings. Catheters have a balloon blown up inside to keep them in place. Pulling can cause serious problems such as bleeding and permanent injury. You best move forward is to ask the nursing personal. To be honest, hospitals using restraints of any kind goes so against them with JCAHO (Joint Commission on Hospital Accreditation, the licensing board) that they will DO ANYTHING to avoid them. They require, often every 15 minute checks and documentation. They will use mitten things to try to prevent using them. They will ask family if they can afford sitters. They will beg family to stay with patient. If no one will speak to you about restraints you should go as high as you need to, and do mention a call to the JCAHO. But why not start with asking the question of first the nurse, and then the doctor. I guarantee that if you tell them you will call JCAHO to have them investigate, you will get some attention. If not, CALL THEM. And tell them your story. You will easily be able to google the correct number for your area. Using restraints in this day and age in a hospital setting is very rare. Their refusal to speak with you about the reason is rare as hen's teeth. Is there a POA here who will take all family concerns forward? If not, ask to see a Case Manager or a Social Worker at once. Someone may need to get emergency temporary guardianship in order to be able to act as medical POA. Is there an advanced directive for your Mom. I hope I have given you things to take forward. I hope you will update us, and most of all I hope your Mom will improve. Pancreatitis is dangerous and can be so very painful.
Keep asking; there IS an answer as to why your mother was put in restraints in the hospital; that info s/b in her chart. She must have been combative and a threat to either herself or the staff or both.
There is always a patient advocate desk in all hospitals. You can check with that advocate if you get nowhere with the nurse in charge.
You best move forward is to ask the nursing personal. To be honest, hospitals using restraints of any kind goes so against them with JCAHO (Joint Commission on Hospital Accreditation, the licensing board) that they will DO ANYTHING to avoid them. They require, often every 15 minute checks and documentation. They will use mitten things to try to prevent using them. They will ask family if they can afford sitters. They will beg family to stay with patient.
If no one will speak to you about restraints you should go as high as you need to, and do mention a call to the JCAHO. But why not start with asking the question of first the nurse, and then the doctor. I guarantee that if you tell them you will call JCAHO to have them investigate, you will get some attention. If not, CALL THEM. And tell them your story. You will easily be able to google the correct number for your area.
Using restraints in this day and age in a hospital setting is very rare. Their refusal to speak with you about the reason is rare as hen's teeth. Is there a POA here who will take all family concerns forward? If not, ask to see a Case Manager or a Social Worker at once. Someone may need to get emergency temporary guardianship in order to be able to act as medical POA. Is there an advanced directive for your Mom.
I hope I have given you things to take forward. I hope you will update us, and most of all I hope your Mom will improve. Pancreatitis is dangerous and can be so very painful.
There is always a patient advocate desk in all hospitals. You can check with that advocate if you get nowhere with the nurse in charge.
Good luck!