The use of bed rails

principles of patient assessment

Everitt, Vivien RGN, DipAHS
Bridel-Nixon, Jane MA, BSc(Hons), RGN

Date of acceptance: May 22 1997.
Vivien Everitt RGN, DipAHS, is Staff Nurse/Research Sister, and Jane Bridel-Nixon MA, BSc(Hons), RGN, is Head of Nursing Research and Development, Nursing Research and Development Unit, St James's and Seacroft University Hospitals, Leeds.
This article has been subject to double-blind review.

Nursing Standard 12(6):p 44-47, October 29, 1997.

Bed rails are often used to prevent patients from injuring themselves through falling, but they may not always have the desired effect.In this literature review, the authors demonstrate that patients must be assessed in relation to clearly defined risk factors to prevent indiscriminate use of bed rails.