During restraint, which documentation is required every 15 minutes?

During restraint, which documentation is required every 15 minutes?

• A. Distal PMS every 15 minutes
• B. Vital signs every 15 minutes
• C. Time of restraint only
• D. Description of behavior every 15 minutes

Answer: (A)

During restraint, the most important monitoring is the distal neurovascular status of the restrained limb. Checking distal pulses, motor function, and sensation every 15 minutes directly assesses whether blood flow and nerve function remain intact under pressure or from positional effects. If a pulse weakens, movement becomes limited, or sensation changes, it signals potential ischemia or nerve compression, prompting prompt adjustments to the restraints, repositioning, or removal to prevent injury. Vital signs or how the patient is behaving are useful, but they don’t reliably reflect the limb’s perfusion and nerve status, which is why distal PMS monitoring every 15 minutes is the key safety measure in this context.

During restraint, the most important monitoring is the distal neurovascular status of the restrained limb. Checking distal pulses, motor function, and sensation every 15 minutes directly assesses whether blood flow and nerve function remain intact under pressure or from positional effects. If a pulse weakens, movement becomes limited, or sensation changes, it signals potential ischemia or nerve compression, prompting prompt adjustments to the restraints, repositioning, or removal to prevent injury. Vital signs or how the patient is behaving are useful, but they don’t reliably reflect the limb’s perfusion and nerve status, which is why distal PMS monitoring every 15 minutes is the key safety measure in this context.