Adapted from the College of Nurses of Ontario – Educational Tools

Adapted from the College of Nurses of Ontario – Educational Tools
The RPN is working in a community hospital’s emergency department when a local correctional facility patient arrives for treatment of a large leg wound. The patient has a history of acute mental illness, is handcuffed and accompanied by two correctional officers. The nurse asks the officers to remove the handcuffs and respect the patient’s privacy while in the emergency department. Although able to assess and treat his leg wound with the handcuffs in place, Nancy is uncomfortable with the patient’s movements being restricted by the handcuffs.