Safe Patient Handling and Movement.

Nurses General Nursing

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I am searching for a Hospital that considers safety of caregivers in regards to patient handling and movement.

I am 47 yrs old and think the wear and tear on my body thus far has led me to consider this search.

I work on a cardio/pulmonary/telemetry unit. They have just added CVA clients to out patient population. We do manual lifting.

The acuity of the patients and need for frequent positioning ie to deal with Resp distress etc. The constant lifting, turning and bending over is doing a good number on my back.

I want to continue nursing, however, I think I need to leave the hospital and return to community nursing. the pay is less,but I place a value o my back.

What I do, Is what I get.

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Well... I work on an Ortho floor, and you want to talk about lifting... You just have to remember proper body mechanics and NOT allow the patients to use you completely....

Heck, I'm not even out of school yet and have pulled my back once or twice.. But I have learned to NOT let them use me to pull and tell them they have to help... Once you explain about not wanting to hurt your back, they are usually pretty good at trying to help if they can...

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Specializes in Cardiolgy.

I think I must be pretty lucky,

the trust where I am training has a no lifting policy, not to say it doesn't still happen, but the trsust has to provided enough moving and handling aids such as hoists and slide sheets, and if you don't use them, you can not come back on them, and try to sue!

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Specializes in OB, Telephone Triage, Chart Review/Code.

Are there other areas in your hospital that you can transfer to? What about a clinic or ambulatory care? Or recovery or preop?

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Specializes in learning disabilities/midwifery.
Originally posted by Whisper

I think I must be pretty lucky,

the trust where I am training has a no lifting policy, not to say it doesn't still happen, but the trsust has to provided enough moving and handling aids such as hoists and slide sheets, and if you don't use them, you can not come back on them, and try to sue!

Ditto..there's been a discussion on here before r.e. the difference between moving & handling issues in the US and the UK.

I know this doesnt help out much with the original question,unless your want to move to Scotland that is ;)

Im a Moving & Handlng link nurse so feel free to pm me for any advice, if you can bully your hospital into getting you some moving & handling equipment I can get you some good links for equipment and advice.

Lisa

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Consider talking to your administration about mechanical lifts. They had them and used them on everyone in the nursing home. I was shocked when I went to the hospital and it took greater than 2 years to finally get them in the hospital. They are a life saver, still few nurses use them. Especially the sit to stand. There is no reason I (5'2") should be pulling on a 6' patient who has poor weight bearing or is scared we are going to drop them, if I don't have to.

And like other posters said, proper body mechanics. Have inservices on good lifting techniques. Call for help with your coworkers as much as you can. Unless it is an emergency (blood,LOC, or fire) I ain't lifting without help.

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Thanks All,

I appreciate your thoughts.

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