Chapter 8

Question 1

When inpatients are moved from one place to another in a hospital, what is required?

Answer 1

Wheeled transport

Question 2

Inpatients must not be allowed to?

Answer 2

Walk to the imaging department

Question 3

Infants and small children should not

Answer 3

Be carried

Question 4

Used for those who can sit upright and stand with safety and comfort

Answer 4

Wheelchairs

Question 5

Patients who cannot stand, and those who have not stood or walked since an accident, surgery, stroke, or heart attack,

Answer 5

Stretchers

Question 6

Another name for stretcher

Answer 6

gurney

Question 7

a rolling cart used to transfer patients in a recumbent position or semi-recumbent position.

Answer 7

Gurney

Question 8

Small children (active infants and toddlers) are often transported in

Answer 8

Cribs

Question 9

Premature infants may be transported in a

Answer 9

Closed incubator

Question 10

Steps in preparing for patient transfer

Answer 10

• Check with nursing service.
• Check patient identification.
• Plan what you are going to do and prepare your work area.
• Obtain equipment and check it for safety and function.
• Check the area for equipment attached to the patient. A urinary collection bag, IV fluids, and pump may need to be transferred; oxygen or suction may need to be discontinued.
• Enlist the patient’s help and cooperation. Remember to tell the patient what you are doing as you proceed.
• Obtain additional help when necessary. Ensure that your assistants understand their roles in the transfer plan.

Question 11

Always double-check (blank) before transport

Answer 11

Two patient identifiers

Question 12

Steps into transferring a patient from a bed to a wheelchair

Answer 12

• Lower the bed to its lowest position; then lower side rails
• Position wheelchair parallel to patient’s bed with wheels locked and foot-rests out of the way
• Lift patient to a sitting position; pivot while lifting, allowing patient’s legs to clear edge of bed. Allow patient to rest briefly before standing.
• Use face-to-face assist to raise weak patient to standing position.
• Help patient pivot with his/her back to wheelchair
• Ease patient to sitting position
• Adjust leg-rests and footrests
• Cover patient’s lap and legs

Question 13

Patients with back pain may find it easier to sit up from

Answer 13

A lateral recumbent position

Question 14

A mild reduction in the oxygen supply to the brain that occurs with changes in body position and may cause them to feel light-headed or faint when rising suddenly

Answer 14

Orthostatic hypotension

Question 15

Also called a transfer belt, should be used when assisting patients who are weak or unsteady

Answer 15

Gait belt

Question 16

Steps on how to transfer patient using gait belt

Answer 16

-Grasp the gait belt or reach around the patient and place your
hands firmly over the scapulae; the patient’s hands may rest on
your shoulders
-On your signal, lift upward to help the patient stand
-Use a broad base of support and keep your back straight
-Now instruct and assist the patient to pivot a quarter turn so that the edge of the wheelchair is touching the back of the patient’s knees; then ease the patient into a sitting position in the chair
-Position the footrests and leg rests, and cover the patient’s lap and legs with a sheet or bath blanket to provide warmth and comfort and to protect the patient’s modesty

Question 17

The most common type of fall associated with a wheelchair transfer occurs

Answer 17

When the patient backs into the wheelchair to sit down

Question 18

Typically have weakness on one side of the body

Answer 18

Stroke patients

Question 19

Wheelchair to take x-ray table transfers

Answer 19

-Place the wheelchair parallel to the table, lock the
brakes, and move the footrests out of the way

Question 20

For adjustable height table for wheelchair to x-ray tube

Answer 20

-lower to chair height
-help the patient to stand and pivot with the patient’s back to the table
-then ease the patient into a sitting position on the edge of the table
-after the patient is seated on the table, raise the table
-place one arm around the patient’s shoulders and one under the knees. With a single, smooth motion, place the patient’s legs on the table while lowering the head and shoulders into the supine position

Question 21

For stationary table of wheelchair to x-ray table

Answer 21

-place step stool with a tall handle nearby
-have the patient place one hand on the stool handle, put the other arm on your shoulder, and step up onto the stool, pivoting with the back to the table
-now ease the patient to a sitting position
-place one arm around the patient’s shoulders and one under the knees. With a single, smooth motion, place the patient’s legs on the table while lowering the head and shoulders into the supine position

Question 22

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS
FOR WHEELCHAIR TRANSFERS

Answer 22

 Stroke victims
 Fractures of the lower extremity
 Joint replacement
 Spinal trauma or surgery
 Patients who cannot stand safely

Question 23

Precautions for patients with hip replacements via the posterior approach (most common)

Answer 23

-Must not flex hip beyond 90 degrees
Weight bearing is usually tolerated (check chart)
-Abduction is permitted
-Avoid adduction
-Avoid internal rotation

Question 24

Precautions for patients with hip replacements via the anterior approach

Answer 24

-May sit upright
-Weight bearing is usually tolerated (check chart)
-Avoid abduction
-Avoid adduction
-Avoid internal or external rotation
-Avoid hyperextension

Question 25

Patients suffering from spinal trauma or recovering from recent spinal surgery should be transferred by

Answer 25

Stretcher

Question 26

When a patient in a wheelchair cannot stand

Answer 26

A hydraulic lift is required

Question 27

Steps on how to use the hydraulic lift

Answer 27

-Lean patient forward in wheelchair, placing sling behind and around him or her
-Pull sling’s lower attachments to center, around patient’s legs
-Connect sling attachments to the lift mechanism
-When attachment is complete and patient is secure, start raising lift.
-Do not move unit until patient has been lifted high enough to clear wheelchair
-Slowly move unit toward table
-Position patient over table
-Lower patient to rest on table
-Detach link and remove unit

Question 28

What are the 3 methods for stretcher transfers

Answer 28

-Draw sheet
-Slider board
-Sliding mat

Question 29

A method of patient transfer that uses a strong sheet of smooth plastic large enough to support the patient’s body with handholds cut into the edges

Answer 29

Slider board

Question 30

A method of patient transfer that uses a soft, tubular sheet of flexible plastic that features a low-friction surface and is used somewhat like a slider board

Answer 30

Sliding mat

Question 31

A single sheet folded in half that is placed under the patient and over the middle third of the bed

Answer 31

Draw sheet

Question 32

 Required to be in up and locked position:
 For patients who are impaired or unconscious
 During transport
 When patients are left unattended on a stretcher

Answer 32

Safety Side Rails

Question 33

How to do a Draw Sheet Transfer

Answer 33

-Roll draw sheet on each side of patient to provide handholds
-Use draw sheet to lift/slide patient onto stretcher

Question 34

How to do a Slider Board

Answer 34

-Using draw sheet, roll patient to one side and place slider board under patient
-Use draw sheet to help slide patient across slider board onto stretcher.

Question 35

How to do Sliding Mat Transfer

Answer 35

-Using draw sheet, roll patient to one side and place sliding mat under him or he
-Slippery double surface of mat facilitates draw sheet transfer. Remove sliding mat once patient is on stretcher

Question 36

Infants and toddlers are usually transported in:

Answer 36

Cribs

Question 37

When transferring a patient who is unable to assist with transfer to or from a stretcher, you should position the patient arms

Answer 37

Across the chest