So I've been away from the bedside for a while. I did critical care for years. Going back in I'm thinking I want to do ER. I can get lots of refresher, orientation and mentoring support. That's not a worry. Here's what worries me. I have osteo-arthritis in my hands. Good dexterity, (I could start an IV, put in a foley etc.) but no real strength. (I decided I couldn't do ICU because patients haven't gotten any lighter nor staffing that much better over the years. I don't think I can hold a 200 pounder on her side with a draw sheet while I clean her up and change the linen... if you see what I mean.) I'm used to carrying my share of the work and don't want to be a burden to co-workers nor a hazard to patients.

Is this weakness likely to be a problem?

Would you need to change an unconscious 200 pounder all by yourself? I would hope that you'd get some help there.

Would you need to change an unconscious 200 pounder all by yourself? I would hope that you'd get some help there.

Yes. Diabetic, obese, and in traction with horrible vaginitis and loose bowels from poly-antibiotics. It wasn't once a shift bed-change, it was several times a nite peri-care and bed-change. I worked nites. We were short staffed. This was early 90's about the time the bright business types decided they could lay off nurses and reduce hospital overhead. (But I'll tell you this, by damn. She never had skin breakdown and she walked out of the hospital!)

Looking back, I realize it made the process harder on the patient. But the other nurses had their own fires they were putting out. A BM in the chux or lady partsl discharge around the foley just didn't seem to warrent calling out the troops. But I couldn't leave her that way.

Are you telling me it's better out there now???? Do I dare hope?

You shouldn't be doing that by yourself and I wouldn't. I no longer try to do anything like that by myself.

I only have one body and it has to last me the rest of my life.

You shouldn't be doing that by yourself and I wouldn't. I no longer try to do anything like that by myself.

I only have one body and it has to last me the rest of my life.

Well... what can I say? I was young enough then to do it myself. (And used leverage and good body mechanics.) Now I'm old and can credibly ask for help.

But you wouldn't have left her that way, would you Mulan? How would you have resolved the dilemma?

I'm not being critical of you. In the olden days, I probably would have done it myself, but no more!

Age has nothing to do with it, young people shouldn't be doing that by themselves either.

If you have to call the supervisor to get help, call, but get help somehow.

Many hospitals now have policies against this type of thing and if you get hurt and you didn't ask for help or use the equipment you were supposed to use then you are out of luck.

I don't know about your area, but in the ER where I work we have to work together. There is always someone that can help turn or move. I am not old yet(28) but I want to keep my body in working order as long as I can. So to answer your question, you should not have a big problem. 200lbs by yourself is not in many job descriptions last time I looked. :)

No... I didn't think you were being critical, and as I look back I realize it wasn't good for me or the patient to do what I did.

Actually, I have an acquaintance that is barely 5' tall and couldn't weigh 90 pounds...works ICU. She assures me she gets help when she has a physical chore like the one I described. But she wants me to work in their ICU, so I figured maybe she was just hosing me. If what you're saying is true, this is a huge change in the last 15 years. A bigger change than all the gadgets and digitalized miniturized gizmo's, miracle drugs, and imaging breakthroughs combined. Seriously, I've worked tertiary care centers in NY, TX, WI, CA, and NV. it was never like that for me before.

I believe you. But I still think I'll look into doing ER.

We are never expected to turn or clean/bathe patients by ourselves. I would never leave a patient like that; but, on the same token, a few more minutes while I find an extra hand (or two) isn't going to make a difference in that situation. I will care patients to the best of my ability as long as God sees fit for me to do so, but I'm not going to sacrifice my body to do it.

so i've been away from the bedside for a while. i did critical care for years. going back in i'm thinking i want to do er. i can get lots of refresher, orientation and mentoring support. that's not a worry. here's what worries me. i have osteo-arthritis in my hands. good dexterity, (i could start an iv, put in a foley etc.) but no real strength. (i decided i couldn't do icu because patients haven't gotten any lighter nor staffing that much better over the years. i don't think i can hold a 200 pounder on her side with a draw sheet while i clean her up and change the linen... if you see what i mean.) i'm used to carrying my share of the work and don't want to be a burden to co-workers nor a hazard to patients.

is this weakness likely to be a problem?

having worked both er and icu, i can tell you that icu was way worse on my back than er has ever been. in an emergency there are always plenty of hands needed to bag patients, start lines, start more lines, draw up emergency meds, chart, and other non physical things.

I appreciate the insights from you currently-in-the-trenches-nurses. Sounds like things are much more rational than they were. I'm feeling less daunted about the prospect of jumping back in.

Thanks.