Waiting for trial verdict....So a little long winded...
This is completely off subject to the Chauvin/Floyd case and more in line with what
Illini Warrior wrote about the Army Air Corps WWII Veteran. But may a valid point to any of you with aging parents in nursing homes or who are headed that way.
IMHO, My nursing judgement -If I had been the charge nurse at the nursing home that John Wrana was a resident of, I would have called the Physician on call and gotten an order for a chemical restraint before I'd let Police come in with riot shields and shot guns. Does it suck to think about holding the 95 y.o. down and shooting him up with Ativan or Haldol? YUP. Yea it does. Does it suck less than him bleeding out from a point blank shot to the gut? YUP. Yea it does.
It is very rare that physical and chemical restraints are used in nursing homes. Physical restraint meaning soft wrist restraints or a seatbelt in wheel chair. Even bed rails are considered physical restraints. Chemical restraints are any medications that will make the person less agitated or aggressive...or awake.
Think antitypical psychotics, maybe mixed with some benzodiazepines. A shot to the ### muscle and you'll be out.
To use either physical or chemical restraints is very time sensitive for the writing Physician and the nurse. It sucks frankly. The nurse must check on and chart on the patient EVERY 15 MINUTES. Doesn't matter if she has 4,5,6, other patients. Every 15 minutes....
My point? I don't know how nursing homes work. I've never worked in one, never will. But if when you meet with the staff on admission of your loved one- and lets say they give you the option to use physical or chemical restrains first over calling in the SWAT team, go for the soft restraints.
...Better yet, have the staff call YOU in to calm Uncle Joe down before he takes one to the Right Lower Quadrant and bleeds out by the pudding cart.
RIP
John Wrana
WWII VET
1918-2013