RNSG 1517 Restraint Application and
Monitoring Complete 100-Question Practice
Exam with Answers and Rationales | Latest
Update 2026 | Graded A+
EXAM OVERVIEW
Restraint application and monitoring is a high-risk nursing
intervention regulated by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
(CMS), The Joint Commission (TJC), and state boards of nursing. This exam
covers physical restraints, chemical restraints, seclusion, least restrictive
alternatives, monitoring requirements, documentation, legal and ethical
considerations, and complications.
Key Regulatory Bodies:
• CMS: 50 pages of interpretive guidelines; every hospital accepting
Medicare must comply
• The Joint Commission (TJC): Standards for restraint and seclusion
• State Boards of Nursing: Scope of practice and delegation guidelines
Types of Restraints :
• Physical Restraint: Devices that restrict freedom of movement (vest
restraints, wrist restraints, mittens, waist restraints)
• Chemical Restraint: Medications used to restrict freedom of movement or
for emergency control of behavior
• Seclusion: Involuntary confinement of a patient alone in a room
,SECTION 1: TYPES OF RESTRAINTS & DEFINITIONS
(Questions 1–15)
1. Which of the following is considered a physical restraint?
A) A bed alarm that alerts staff when a patient attempts to get up
B) A soft vest restraint that prevents a patient from getting out of
bed
C) A sedative medication administered to calm an agitated patient
D) A low bed that reduces the distance of a potential fall
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A soft vest restraint is a physical restraint because it is
a device attached to the patient that restricts freedom of
movement. Bed alarms and low beds are safety devices, not
restraints, because they do not physically restrict movement.
Sedative medications used for behavior control are considered
chemical restraints.
2. A patient is placed in a room alone and the door is closed
to prevent the patient from leaving. This is an example of:
A) Physical restraint
B) Chemical restraint
C) Seclusion
D) Environmental safety
Correct Answer: C
,Rationale: Seclusion is the involuntary confinement of a patient
alone in a room from which the patient is physically prevented
from leaving. Physical restraint involves devices attached to the
body; chemical restraint involves medications. Environmental
safety measures are used for protection, not confinement.
3. A nurse administers haloperidol to an agitated patient
solely to control behavior rather than to treat a medical
symptom. This is an example of:
A) Appropriate medication administration
B) Chemical restraint
C) Physical restraint
D) Therapeutic intervention
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Chemical restraint is the use of a psychoactive
medication to inhibit a person's movement or behavior that is not
required to treat medical symptoms. CMS prohibits chemical
restraints imposed for purposes of discipline or convenience.
4. Raised bed rails may be considered a restraint if:
A) The patient requests them for safety
B) The intent is to restrict the patient's movement
C) They are used for all patients on the unit
D) The patient is confused
Correct Answer: B
, Rationale: Raised bed rails or trays placed over wheelchairs may
be considered a restraint if the intent is to restrict movement. The
determination is based on the purpose and effect, not the device
itself. If the intent is to prevent falls and the patient can easily
lower the rails, they may not be considered restraints.
5. Which of the following is NOT considered a restraint?
A) Wrist restraints applied to prevent a patient from pulling out a
feeding tube
B) A mitten restraint that prevents a patient from removing an IV
line
C) A lap belt used to keep a patient in a wheelchair
D) A bed with side rails that the patient can lower independently
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Bed rails that the patient can lower independently are
not considered restraints because they do not restrict the
patient's freedom of movement. Wrist restraints, mitten
restraints, and lap belts (when used to restrict movement) are all
physical restraints.
6. Chemical restraint is defined as:
A) Any medication administered to a patient
B) A psychopharmacologic drug used to control mood, mental
status, or behavior
Monitoring Complete 100-Question Practice
Exam with Answers and Rationales | Latest
Update 2026 | Graded A+
EXAM OVERVIEW
Restraint application and monitoring is a high-risk nursing
intervention regulated by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
(CMS), The Joint Commission (TJC), and state boards of nursing. This exam
covers physical restraints, chemical restraints, seclusion, least restrictive
alternatives, monitoring requirements, documentation, legal and ethical
considerations, and complications.
Key Regulatory Bodies:
• CMS: 50 pages of interpretive guidelines; every hospital accepting
Medicare must comply
• The Joint Commission (TJC): Standards for restraint and seclusion
• State Boards of Nursing: Scope of practice and delegation guidelines
Types of Restraints :
• Physical Restraint: Devices that restrict freedom of movement (vest
restraints, wrist restraints, mittens, waist restraints)
• Chemical Restraint: Medications used to restrict freedom of movement or
for emergency control of behavior
• Seclusion: Involuntary confinement of a patient alone in a room
,SECTION 1: TYPES OF RESTRAINTS & DEFINITIONS
(Questions 1–15)
1. Which of the following is considered a physical restraint?
A) A bed alarm that alerts staff when a patient attempts to get up
B) A soft vest restraint that prevents a patient from getting out of
bed
C) A sedative medication administered to calm an agitated patient
D) A low bed that reduces the distance of a potential fall
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A soft vest restraint is a physical restraint because it is
a device attached to the patient that restricts freedom of
movement. Bed alarms and low beds are safety devices, not
restraints, because they do not physically restrict movement.
Sedative medications used for behavior control are considered
chemical restraints.
2. A patient is placed in a room alone and the door is closed
to prevent the patient from leaving. This is an example of:
A) Physical restraint
B) Chemical restraint
C) Seclusion
D) Environmental safety
Correct Answer: C
,Rationale: Seclusion is the involuntary confinement of a patient
alone in a room from which the patient is physically prevented
from leaving. Physical restraint involves devices attached to the
body; chemical restraint involves medications. Environmental
safety measures are used for protection, not confinement.
3. A nurse administers haloperidol to an agitated patient
solely to control behavior rather than to treat a medical
symptom. This is an example of:
A) Appropriate medication administration
B) Chemical restraint
C) Physical restraint
D) Therapeutic intervention
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Chemical restraint is the use of a psychoactive
medication to inhibit a person's movement or behavior that is not
required to treat medical symptoms. CMS prohibits chemical
restraints imposed for purposes of discipline or convenience.
4. Raised bed rails may be considered a restraint if:
A) The patient requests them for safety
B) The intent is to restrict the patient's movement
C) They are used for all patients on the unit
D) The patient is confused
Correct Answer: B
, Rationale: Raised bed rails or trays placed over wheelchairs may
be considered a restraint if the intent is to restrict movement. The
determination is based on the purpose and effect, not the device
itself. If the intent is to prevent falls and the patient can easily
lower the rails, they may not be considered restraints.
5. Which of the following is NOT considered a restraint?
A) Wrist restraints applied to prevent a patient from pulling out a
feeding tube
B) A mitten restraint that prevents a patient from removing an IV
line
C) A lap belt used to keep a patient in a wheelchair
D) A bed with side rails that the patient can lower independently
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Bed rails that the patient can lower independently are
not considered restraints because they do not restrict the
patient's freedom of movement. Wrist restraints, mitten
restraints, and lap belts (when used to restrict movement) are all
physical restraints.
6. Chemical restraint is defined as:
A) Any medication administered to a patient
B) A psychopharmacologic drug used to control mood, mental
status, or behavior
