Seclusion practice: a critical examination of the nurses' decision-making process

Background Seclusion continues to be a widespread measure used in psychiatric settings. Furthermore, the humanitarian, ethical and legal issues associated with the use of seclusion make it one of the most controversial management strategies available. Despite these important issues, little nursing research has sought to gain an understanding of the nurses' decision-making process regarding the use of seclusion in psychiatric settings. Objective: The objective of this presentation is to outline the research results of a grounded theory study conducted in two major Canadian university affiliated psychiatric hospitals.