Re: Your Back

To answer the question asked.....YES!...I say this because I missed approx 3 weeks of work due to a pinched nerve mid-back...but in reality...NO...I think that the point was really that some nurses will go out of their way to ask a male to help lift when in reality anyone should be capable of the task..same with IV starts...the load should be shared equally among all....sort of like when a nurse will bypass a room that has a call light on and go out of their way to find the UAC to go into the room.

Re: Your Back

In my previous, unlicensed position, transfering pts from bed to chair, wheelchair to bed, floor to bed, etc. were part of my routine duties. As an RN, that experience continues to serve me (and my coworkers.)

Not long ago, I was asked to go to an adjacent unit to help with a pt on the floor. Very heavy, and when his nurse explained what they wanted to do, I could see right away we were all going to end up on the floor. So I organized a safer lift for all concerned, having the pt lie on a blanket and 8 of us lifted him to bed. I was the only male lifting, and could easily have let a female take my place, since we were each lifting 40-50 lbs (closer to 40, I estimate) each.

As much as I can, I lift with my brain. I would be embarassed to get extra pay for it. I ask women for lifting help numerous times each shift. We don't have enough guys to cover all the lifting, and patients still get moved, even when none of us are there.

I do start my own Foleys, IVs, etc, but I'll ask for help if I need to. (I agree--I'd rather help with a lift than start a Foley, especially on a female. Grab and heave is easier for me than poke and hope.)

I rarely ask a female to witness for me. Maybe that's dumb, but I do offer the patient the option of having a female do intimate care, if she prefers. Most are okay with me.