No lift policy

Nurses Safety

Published

Could some of you please briefly tell me the status of the no lift policies within some of your healthcare facilities where you are employed, regarding patients that are able to support their weight? Bed to wheelchair, wheelchair to toilet, etc.

Specializes in ICU.

I would look at altering your chairs. Drop down sides and fold flat chairs - there are also things as transfer mats that are like the carosel thingy in the middle of the table at a chinese restruant. There are a lot of inexpensive solutions out there that will save you - the trick is to find what suits you and talk to managment about the advantages for THEM.

In Texas, there is no Workman's Comp requirment. Facilities are not held responsible financially or otherwise for injured workers. There is no financial incentive for them to invest in lifting equipment. If a worker's back is injured severely enough that the employee can no longer work, the facility lays them off or fires them. They have no reponsibility towards the worker.

I was injured on the job in 2002. My employer refused to pay for my treatment. I called several lawyers and was told there was nothing I could do. I had to pay for my treatment myself, or it would affect my credit rating. Thankfully, I recovered. I now carry personal death/dimemberment/disability insurance, which I obtained privately and pay for myself.

Specializes in ICU.

I did not realise it had become that bad in America.

It's not that bad in all the states. But, Texas is the only state without any Workman's Comp requirment. It's particulary bad in "right to work" states (Texas is one). Basically, that means that employment is "at will." any employee can be fired at any time, without cause.

In other states where unions and Workman's Comp exist, things are better. If I did not have to be in Texas for my husband's job, I would love to leave.

Your suggestions are good ones, Gwenith, there is just no frame-work in place here for me to try and utilize them.

Helllllo,

thanks for the information. Somehow, I never cease to be amazed at how low Bush can go. I just can't believe that any American, especially one who calls himself a Christian, could be so foul and disgusting. Surely Bush knows that Jesus wouldn't do the things to the people the Bush himself is doing!

I feel so helpless in the face of the political goings-on in America. I write to my congressmen and the president regularly, and of course that has no effect at all on how they vote. I'm just really discouraged by this country's workforce policies now days.

On another note, I didn't realize that Tx had no responsibilty for workplace acquired injuries. So if a pt. stabs you while working, it's your problem?? If you break your leg on the job, they don't pay you? No unemployment or anything? Currently I live in VA, and it is a right to work state as well, but we do have worker's comp. I really need to reconsider moving to Tx.

http://www.osha.gov/ergonomics/guidelines/nursinghome/index.html

http://www.ena.org/news/news/PatientHandling-PosState.pdf

It is amazing that a little research on the web, can clarify alot of mis-information generated! Check out the links above.

:confused:

I have worked in a facility in Oregon with a "no lift policy", pediatric skilled nursing up to age 21 where most of the residents were quads. We used automatic lifts for most of the patients to W/C, bath gurney, prone wedges, floor. We also used "slide sheets" to reposition some of the larger youth in bed. All of the children were given a lift designation on admit; only the littlest kids

ER has a slide that we use for transfering gurney to bed and its very helpful. I would love to see chair slides as well...and see chairs with sides that come down (some wheelchairs do I know, but regular hospital patient chairs should also have this)

We might be able to selll management on some of these things if we can present them with data on how it reduces employer expense to to OJT injury.

Texas businesses are not required to carry Workers Comp...they must provide 'something' if they don't. My employer has its own program and they of course are very self serving..they pull all the strings and work hard to get out of helping their injured workers. :(. My hubby is union and was transfered to Texas, otherwise my choice of locale would be a unionized area where nurses have some organized method of representation. It sucks here in that respect. :(

Bush was wrong to allow facilities to dodge this OSHA ergonomics requirements. We all need to deluge his office with letters of rebuke...like I hope all nurses did with this overtime law thing...I sure did. :(

I am conservative but lately the anti worker legislation is really getting to me and I am reconsidering whom I support.

Vote Bush out the door in 2004.

Vote his supporters, the senators who do not protect workers rights, out asap.

Texas would never be a place I would want to work. Have 3 friends who came back East after 5 or more years there. They saw handwriting on wall and left before they were injured or blackballed. They are good nurses, no problems with health or credit, just getting older. They said over 35 is dangerous in Texas. Any body agree?

Originally posted by barefootlady

They are good nurses, no problems with health or credit, just getting older. They said over 35 is dangerous in Texas. Any body agree?

LOL! Well I am over 35 and definitely notice I was much more in demand and quickly and easily hired b4 35!!!

Since I haven't been anywhere else but here since age 35 I can't really compare, but I suspect since we are a employment at will, nonunion state that you might be correct. Add a work injury in my past and a hospital association that keeps some suspect files on us via Group One, it sure hasn't helped older nurses any...LOL! Those of us who have spoken up ( or tried to organize...don't say the U word down here) end up getting bit in the orifice for it sooner or later, I'm afraid. Discouraging.

But all in all I'm surviving....still learning......still got a job and will be getting a raise soon :) so can't whine too much (altho I sure miss my union). I look forward to my hubby transfering us back out of here....but it will now be harder to leave as I have raised the kiddos here....:o

Wish I could get a nice warm pro nurse, union area with a reasonable cost of living...I don't want much do I????LOL!!!:roll

Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.
Originally posted by Mike RGN

A no lift policy means what it says

We don't lift at all

We assist to move if the patient can help by sliding, suporting otherwise we Hoist.

Lots of patient with education now move themselves

I love the idea of a no-lift facility!

What does "Hoist" mean. Is that a mechanical lifting device?

Yes tweety, except we use the word as a verb too! Is a "Hoyer" a particular make of hoisting/lifting device?

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