Case description:

A 90-year-old male on hemodialysis treatment since 2009 through autologous arteriovenous fistula in the left arm. In 2018, the patient presents cognitive deterioration symptoms, being finally diagnosed with advanced vascular dementia. In the hemodialysis sessions, he presents disconnection of the environment, psychomotor agitation, sometimes reaching verbal aggressions and attempts to extract the needles.

Description of the care plan:

An initial focused assessment is carried out to determine comorbidity, mortality, cognitive status and the degree of dependence for activities of daily living, then nursing diagnoses according to the NANDA taxonomy, with their respective NIC and NOC, were applied.

Evaluation of the care plan:

During the month of December 2018 and January 2019, the patient's condition was assessed for 24 sessions, to avoid the use of physical support or alternative therapeutic approach. Music therapy, emotional accompaniment, active listening and audio-visual distraction were used to reduce psychomotor agitation. Alternative measures to physical restraint decreased episodes of psychomotor agitation during hemodialysis treatment.

Conclusions:

The nursing role is essential to avoid unnecessary physical restraint. The only indication for the use of physical restraint should be considered when there is a risk of interruption of treatment, compromising patient safety. In the case report presented, alternatives to physical restraint interventions decreased psychomotor agitation during hemodialysis sessions.