Are there any floors like mine, acute care, with no lifting equipment?

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Or Geri chairs. We do have one cardiac chair. Just wondering.

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Specializes in medical surgical.

We had none. Had a 500 pound pt fall on floor. Took 6 of us to pull him up. 2 were huge males 250 lbs plus. I just about ripped my back out. We had a lift but administration got concerned that someone would use it wrong and the patient would get hurt and sue so it is gone.

I no longer work at this facility.

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Specializes in ER, Trauma.

How many beds on your unit? Usually facilities are open to buying and owning things faster than they are to provide extra staff (which they see as being rented by the hour). Protect yourself and your patients, in that order! Ask any EMT what the first priority is, never make yourself a victim!

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Specializes in LTC, Acute care.

Mine too has no lifting equipment. I have been known to ask transporters to get the 'arjo pad' thingy to move patients with when we have to move a patient from stretcher to bed , I will not risk my back for anybody. Sorry.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

My unit has a portable lift but we rarely use it, so now who remembers how to use it. It's obscene how heavy the patients are.... 450 lbs... are you kidding me.....

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Specializes in LTC.

ugh we have lifts thank goodness. the hospital i did clincals at had a lift team we could call...which was awesome...

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Specializes in Developmental Disabilites,.

We have no lifts it is ridiculous.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, DSU, Ortho, Onc, Psych.

Refuse to life ANY heavy patient who has fallen. It is law that a facility must have safe lifting equipment. I guard my back fiercely and have always looked after it.

Nurses allow facilities to get away with this type of behaviour because they won't put up a stand for unsafe working conditions.

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Specializes in tele, oncology.

Wait...I thought nurses and techs WERE the lifting equipment!

We had a 400 pound pt hit the floor...twice in one shift...not long ago. Took six of us to lift her. We rolled her onto a bedspread and used that to heft her back in bed. I like to have killed the nurse who let it happen twice.

Ever notice how it's hardly ever the little bitty ones who fall?

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I'm seen quite a few threads about lack of lifting equipment and it really surprises me each time. How can this be in 2011??

It's even hard to see how it's a cost issue. Surely the cost of lifting equipment is less than the cost of injuries to patients and staff caused by poor or dangerous lifting practices?

mama_d, I would be REALLY worried that a bedspread would tear or break if being used to lift a patient of that weight. God forbid that would happen but just think of the possible injuries to the patient if it did, and the implications for the staff who were using the bedspread to lift.

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Specializes in Medical.

Manual handling's heavily regulated in Australia - facilities with inadequate equipment are fined or shut down, and there are regular inspections.

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Specializes in Hospice.

Not to mention the risk of further injury if a pt has fallen to the floor. Its policy that if there is a fall you use a hoyer to transfer back to bed. I think we have pretty inadeqate equipment and we have a lot of clincal injuries but i can't imagine not having any lifts.

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