I am currently working at a nursing home that is going to the no bed rail policy seeing its a law, becuase it's a restraint.
I understand that this is a restraint and that restraining a resident without doctor's orders is illegal, but what about the saftey of a resdient?
Right now we put the bed rails down, position the resident with the wedges, and pillows, and then put one of the big mats down on the floor.
I understand that one of the issues with them being left up that its a restraint but also that if a resident tries to get out of their bed they have a further fall if they try to go over them.
What happens if they fall out of their bed now? Yeah, that mat will protect them but they could hit their head on the bed, on something around the bed as they fall, try to catch their fall and get hurt, or try to get up after.
I guess I am just wondering what everyone else is thinking...

sad but true
what about the patients with seizures who have the rails up and pads?
some of the pt's are sleeping on mattresses surrounded by pads on the floor
it makes me sad to see a little one snarled in blankets flipping like a fish on the floor
eventually she will have to stop at the boundery of the wall
will they take the walls away next?

Yeah,since you can not use bed rails now they are placed on a matress on the floor.It is suppose to be a safety thing.But have you ever tried to change a 175 lb patient on the floor.It is murder on the back. How about feeding some one with no way to raise thei head.And they talk about dignity.Go figure.

SO basically if someone is known for seizures that are put on the floor? Thats unsafe for EVERYONE... CNA's, themselves when it comes to meds & feedings like you said, and other residents if they go in there, its wrong! And for some reason i feel like that isnt too good "infection control" for the fact yes, they ARE on a pad but being so close to an unclean floor makes me feel like its not that healthy?

Yeah, same here, being a CNA is hard enough on the back with good body mechanics let-alone having to bend over and do EVERYTHING on the floor. It doesnt seem right.
Yes, infection control it what kind of bothers me. I asked my health teachers & they said they might be in a seperate room, but still.... if nurses and everyone is walking in & out its still very unlcean, and unhealthy...

With this back issue....I cannot believe they got CNA bending over and stooping over like this....there has got to be someone--either in the chain of command at your facility or a health official that represents the state about this issue...your health is important just like the care you give your residents! If you loose your back then your done for! How do they expect you to put your safety on the line! I dont think that this is fair or right. Am I being absurd about this or there are others who agree with me????

In our facility we have patients who's beds can be upped or lowered when needed. One patient really has to have the bed lowered (but not necessarily flat on the floor) at all times because of her behavior. She has an alarm in bed. There is also a mat on the floor with alarm underneath. In my tour of duty, I have not seen the patient on the mat yet because she is in the room closest to the nurse station.

I know that bed rails as a restraint is a very controversial issue. However, while doing clinicals in LTC we had a lot of residents whose beds were either on the floor or on blocks on the floor. It's really hard to try to change a catheter and maintain sterile procedure when you are on your knees on the floor and there's nowhere to set up a sterile field. I know that you can use the resident's bed but what if they won't lay still and knock everything off into the floor? Talk about your chances of getting infection!