Abstract
he aim of this study is to clarify the methods of interpretation and actions in regards to circumstances surrounding the use of physical restraint by nurses working in ICUs while conducting patient management. With five ICU nurses as research participants, a qualitative analysis was conducted based on participant observation and semi structured interviews.
The results of the analysis showed that physical restraint exists as one form of patient management in the ICU and that the circumstances in the ICU influence the decisions and actions of nurses regarding the use of physical restraint. Regarding judgment and action pertaining to physical restraint, the categories extrapolated were：grasping the circumstances of the ICU by listening, interpreting the circumstances of the ICU by the movements of nurses, making judgments based on a combination of subjective observations and objective observations, and circumstances of the ICU influence the actions of nurses. And regarding physical restraint, the following factors were particularly found to be significant influences：the responsibility of nurses directly assigned to patients and fulfilling the role of a member nurse.
