CNA Certification (Written Exam)Resident Rights and Legal/EthicalHard
A confused resident becomes agitated and combative during care. The nurse gives the resident a sedative not ordered for a diagnosed condition, specifically to make the resident easier to manage. This is an example of:
- AAppropriate use of medication for resident safety
- BA chemical restraint, which violates resident rights
- CA physical restraint
- DStandard nursing judgment within scope of practice
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. A chemical restraint, which violates resident rights
Using medication to control behavior or for staff convenience, rather than to treat a diagnosed medical condition, is considered a chemical restraint and is prohibited without proper medical justification and consent. This violates the resident's right to be free from unnecessary restraints.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Using medication solely to control behavior for convenience is not appropriate care.
- C. A physical restraint involves a device or physical method, not medication.
- D. This use is not within acceptable standards of nursing judgment; it violates resident rights.
Chemical Restraint
The use of medication to control a resident's behavior or movement for staff convenience, rather than to treat a diagnosed condition, which is prohibited without proper justification.
- Must be tied to a diagnosed medical need, not convenience
- Requires physician order and, often, consent
- Violates resident's right to be free from unnecessary restraints
Memory trick: Meds for meds' sake, not to make life easy for staff.