INDIVIDUALIZED ASSESSMENT AND INTERVENTION IN BILATERAL SIDERAIL USE

The use of bilateral siderails, similar to physical restraints, can be safely reduced by a comprehensive assessment process. This article pr esents an individualized assessment for evaluating siderail use to gui de nurses in managing resident characteristics for falling out of bed and intervening for high-risk residents. The individualized assessment is consistent with federal resident assessment instrument requirement s and includes risk factors specific to falls from bed.