When is it appropriate to remove restraints?

• A. Immediately upon arrival at receiving facility
• B. Only with a physician order
• C. Under no circumstances
• D. When care is transferred at the receiving facility or patient condition has changed to warrant removal

Answer: (D)

Removing restraints hinges on safe reassessment and handoff. Keep restraints in place during transport and only remove them when it’s appropriate for the patient’s safety and the next phase of care. The best time to do so is when care is handed off at the receiving facility, or when the patient’s condition changes—improves or stabilizes—enough that restraints are no longer needed. This allows the receiving team to reevaluate, address any underlying causes of agitation (pain, hypoxia, intoxication, etc.), and document the change. Premature removal can risk patient harm, while waiting for a physician order or removing only on arrival without reassessment isn’t appropriate. So, remove restraints when care is transferred or the patient’s condition warrants removal.