two people for hoyer lift-why?

Nursing Students CNA/MA

Updated:   Published

I see on here that many people have to have two people in the room to perform a hoyer lift on a resident. I do not understand this. Why do you need two people?

As long as the sling is positioned properly and you are using the right size there is really no risk to the resident that I can see.

Our facility does not have this policy and I can't understand why this is even a policy?

It just seems like a rule that is set up to be broken!

Can someone enlighten me!?

Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.

OP, can you explain why you are so adament about not using two people when utilizing a hoyer lift. It's a safety factor plain and simple, for you and your client! If it is your facility policy, it scares me to think that you would potentially violate it because you think you can do it on your own

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I have never had to have 2 people for hoyer lift..untell my current job..I did use it alone like I am used to because when I asked for help the other aids either ignored me ,said ya I'll be right there and never show up..I can't see making resident wait so long while I find another aid to help or just stand there..well bottom line every cna in the facility uses the hoyer alone and when I asked what do you do when another aid isn't available? And I'm told just make sure you shut the door and just do it..well that is not the answer they should be given if it a rule..anyway just wanted to vent..I got caught they haven't I guess

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At one of the facilities I worked at, a hoyer lift snapped on two residents within 30 minutes of eachother. Both of them the sling broke and both residents fell out of the lift and were over 200lbs, dependent as well. If the investigators come in and ask why weren't there two people in the room, which they have the authority to ask, not much the facility can say. The state came in on the incidents and other complaints as well. The info was posted on the states website. So in the even of a life-threatening incident, it is always wise to have another person there.

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I asked for help by the other aids they never came in to help me..the resident was wanting up I told her I was waiting for Co worker..they didn't come I proceeded on getting her up..I understand the accidents that could happen..bur seeing the shower aid not using 2 people and all other aids not using 2 people I just thought I was ok..the resident thanked me after she was settled in her chair and I went on with my day. .

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Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.

If that resident is careplanned as a hoyer and the facility policy is 2 staff to use a mechanical lift, I'd write you up for doing what you did. Flame away, but staff safety is PRIORITY, with resident safety following right behind. Those policies are in place for a reason!

pammypatterson said:
I asked for help by the other aids they never came in to help me..the resident was wanting up I told her I was waiting for Co worker..they didn't come I proceeded on getting her up..I understand the accidents that could happen..bur seeing the shower aid not using 2 people and all other aids not using 2 people I just thought I was OK..the resident thanked me after she was settled in her chair and I went on with my day. .
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I totally agree and would not care if I got written up..But to be put on suspension. And told someone would call me and let me know what was going on.if I had a job or didnt .to not hear anything I feel that is wrong..yes I admit I was wrong and yes it is there policy 2 people..but if there aids are going to train new aids and tell them to just close the door and use it if no one comes to help..they should be written up also..I'm not putting this out there to get sympothy.im putting ir our there to see if I'm wrong about should they call me and let me know what's going on? I have never had to use 2 people with a hoyer anywhere else I've worked..I was comfortable using it alone. If other aids refuse to help other aids and it's a very busy time of day what would u do..the nurses won't help the higher authorities were not there yet..

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In my CNA training we had to use the hoyers on each other so we would know how our residents felt. I somehow fell through the sling and landed on my butt with my foot caught in the strap. The only thing injured was my ego but it would have been a different story if it were a confused/agitated/anticoagulated/frail patient. I refuse to mess around with the hoyers alone.

We do have ceiling lifts in all the rooms at the hospital where I work, and I will occasionally use them alone to reposition a patient in bed (which is okay per policy), but for transfers, I am never going to risk it.

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Specializes in LTC and Pediatrics.

In my state, facilities have gone to requiring 2 people for the hoyer. Why? There was a recent case where one person used, did not strap the resident in correctly, she fell out of it, hit her head and died a few days later. After that, facilities went to requiring 2 people to use.

Safety first and this is a safety issue.

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I have a manager at the Nursing home I am working at that said if you are not trained on the hoyer it should be two people. If you are trained it should be one person. I have come across when working with one person it is hard to push the hoyer while directing the person into the bathroom onto the toilet or wheel chair. If you have 300 lb resident they want you to use a hoyer by your self. I was told to always use two people.

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Because some residents are heavy and they swing back and forth, which causes them to hit their foot on the stand or door. The resident has a tendency to twist around on the lift. If you have to use the lift by your self while using the buttons to lower them and also align them. You or the resident may get hurt.

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In Washington it is a state regulation that hoyer/Vander lifts are 2 people transfers..safety of resident and employee..

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As of 5/21/2017 it is still not mandatory in Washington state to require 2 people to use a mechanical lift. There is no Washington Administrative Code to say anything supporting that argument. Technically, the lifts were designed for one person to use. In adult family homes, there's only ever one caregiver at a time. It comes down to using safe smart decision making. Or common sense.

If it takes 2 of you to turn a patient, you might want to think about this for a mechanical lift. It depends where you are transferring a patient to.

In reality...even an assessed one person transfer might require the assistance of two caregivers.

I've been in healthcare over 25 years. Facilities are afraid of potential injury, however a patient can be injured just the same through a two person transfer of any kind. Accidents DO happen, despite all preventions put into place. These are human beings.

If you are properly trained, have the transfer sling properly placed and pay attention to all of your surroundings you are safe to do so.

Please note that company policy may be stronger than your state administrative codes...

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