Safe Patient Handling and Mobility Flashcards
_____ of nurses consider leaving nursing due to low back pain at average age of 39?
12%
Patient care ranks among the _____most hazardous occupations for injuries to muscles and joints?
top 10
Over ______of nurses complain of chronic back pain lasting more than 14 days within the past 6 months
52%
the average nurse lifts an estimated _____ per shift?
4 patients X 6 lifts X 170 lbs = 4,080 lbs per shift
2 tons
What Makes Patients Risky?
-Patients can’t be held close to the body.
-Patients are bulky.
-Patients have no handles! They can’t be lifted like boxes!
-You can’t predict what will happen while you’re taking care of a patient.
-You don’t always know if a patient can help you or not.
truth or myth: Classes in body mechanics and lifting techniques keep staff from getting hurt
The truth is that training alone
won’t keep you safe.
truth or myth: “Lifting equipment will slow me down on the job.”
No, it doesn’t! New types of lifting equipment help you finish your work on time with less strain on your muscles.
Even if it did take more time, you would need to use equipment in order to protect your safety and health.
truth or myth: “Patients won’t like being moved with slings and lifting equipment.”
Actually research shows that patients feel safer when they are handled and moved with sturdy and strong equipment.
What is Ergonomics?
is the science of fitting the task to the worker and product to the user
-NOT fitting the worker to the task or product.
ergon
greek for “work”
nomos
greek for “laws”
How Can Patient Care Ergonomics Help You?
-It allows you to work in a comfortable position that avoids awkward postures and strain while you work. Your job should fit you!
-It provides you with an understanding of the limits of the performance capabilities of your body.
-It says that when your job demands seem greater than your physical abilities, be careful! You’re at higher risk for injury.
High Risk Patient Care Activities
-Lateral Transfers: Move patients sideways. e.g. from a bed to a stretcher
-Transfers Involving Sitting/Standing Positions: e.g. bed-to-chair, chair-to-toilet
-Repositioning: Move patients up or side-to-side in bed, turning in bed.
-Floor: Move patients who have fallen.
Patient Care Risk Factors
-Awkward postures
-Lifting heavy loads
-Excessive pushing/pulling
-Frequent/repeated lifting and moving
-Tasks that last a long time (duration)
-Reaching
NIOSH Weight Limits for Safe Lifting
-Manual Materials Handling
Maximum = 51 pounds
-Patient Handling/Lifting
Maximum = 35 pounds
Why Use Equipment?
-Patients weigh too much (>35 lbs) for you to lift them without mechanical assistance.
-Frequent unassisted lifting and movement of patients using awkward postures causes muscle and joint discomfort and damage.
-Patient handling equipment saves your back!
Risks of Job Environments
-Slip, trip and fall hazards
-Uneven work surfaces (stretchers, exam tables, beds, chairs, toilets at different heights)
-Space limitations (small rooms, lots of equipment)
-Enough help, staffing levels, off-shifts
-Enough and appropriate safe patient handling equipment in good condition
Body Mechanics
-Body positions thought to provide some protection from the force associated with lifting and moving patients.
-Alone are not sufficient to protect you from the heavy weight, awkward postures and repetition involved in manual handling.
-Use proper body mechanics along with SPHM aids.
-Keep Your BACK SAFE!
Proper Body Mechanics
-Maintain a wide stable base.
-When providing care, put the bed at waist level. When moving a patient, put the bed at hip level.
-Face the direction of your movement. Avoid twisting your body.
-Keep the patient as close to your body as possible.
Bed Height
-Adjust the bed height for the shorter staff.
-Taller people bend their knees to get lower.
-Place a knee up on the bed to get closer to the patient.
Side Rails
-Take down the side rails to minimize your reach when doing patient care/handling.
-You can act as a side rail during most transfers.
Brakes
-Lock the brakes on the bed and the target transfer surface, i.e. wheelchair, stretcher.
-Do not lock brakes on lifts when transferring patients.
Principles for SPHM
-Take responsibility for knowing how equipment works and its availability.
-Assess the patient/environment and select the appropriate transfer method, equipment/staff.
-Plan transfer and communicate with other staff.
-Coach the patient. Tell the patient what action you plan and expect from them. Have them help as much as possible.
Assessing the Patient
-What is the patients’ ability to?
Provide assistance
Bear weight
Cooperate & follow instructions
-Do they have upper extremity strength? How strong?
-Can they independently sit at the edge of the bed?
-What is their height and weight?
Sling/equipment limits, amount of staff
-Some hospitals don’t have modern patient handling equipment
-Some hospitals don’t have good assessment systems or resources
What’s a student to do?
-You can refuse to perform an unsafe activity.
-Ask your instructor for guidance if you feel you’ve been asked to perform an unsafe patient handling activity.
What about Bariatric Patients?
-The handling and moving of bariatric patients (those with a Body Mass Index >30) present a variety of unique challenges.
-Specialized equipment and procedures are needed for handling these patients.
SPHM Equipment Demo
-Transfer Belts
-Slide Sheets
-HoverMatt
-Total Assist Lift
-Ceiling Lift
-Standing and Raising Aids
-HoverJack
