Abstract
The purpose of this study was to clarify the elements and structure of restrictions as applied to nursing in a psychiatric open ward through the microethnography fieldwork method. The fieldwork identified 19 episodes. Episode analysis revealed five restriction categories: content, reasons, methods, patient responses and method revision. Restriction in a ward means "Actions that maintain patients or patient groups in a stable state." A decision for restriction is often made by a caregiver or family member rather than by the patient and is affected by the sense of responsibility felt by the caregiver or family member toward the patient. The study also revealed that if a patient did not show resistance to restrictions, the restrictions were often irresponsibly repeated.
