Backbreaking work

[Breezy_Bella]

In nursing school, we're taught using the perfect scenarios, how to use proper body mechanics. However, in home care (and other settings too) that is just not the reality, and I'm struggling with trying to prevent an injury.

I've been working here and there as a CNA for 5 years while attending college. During my first job ever as a CNA, I was injured. The joint between my rib and spine tore slightly when I caught my client so he wouldn't fall. Most of my the clients don't have beds that move up and down, which hurts my back because I'm tall. I can't move them properly up in bed, when they can't lift at all with their legs. Nor do most of the clients have the right safety equipment in their houses, and they don't want to spend the money on them. I use proper body mechanics, but when my client is feeling like falling, I tend to bend my back in terrible ways to prevent them from falling. With the tight corners I'm often dealing with in home care, it's VERY difficult for me to use the proper body mechanics. For example, when helping my client on the toilet last week, she experienced sudden vertigo (we did dangle for several minutes and she was "ready" to stand). I had to bend my back in a bad way to prevent the person from falling. It's been 3 days, and my back muscles are still sore. I'm torn (literally!) with being able to gain the experience as a CNA and working at my previous job (selling nutrition supplements) in order to reduce the risk of further injury. I want to be a great nurse, but working in home care is killing me! I can't seem to get hired at a hospital for the small amount of hours I can only work. I'm thinking about seeing a reputable chiropractor I know about this too.

How can I fix this problem I'm having?!?!

Thank you, all!

[jj224]

I'd recommend using a gait belt and learning how to use it. The goal isn't to hold them up - rather to slowly control them down if they are falling. Tough position for you is if they're on the ground, how are you going to get them up.. I'd keep applying to hospitals or SNFs until something opens up. Typically they have equipment and other staff available to help.

[Breezy_Bella]

Thank you, and yes I use the gait belt. It's help a lot, but when my client almost went down the other day in a tiny bathroom with the wheel chair in the bathroom as well, I didn't have any room to help the client down. The client doesnt like to listen to me when I suggest a safe method. It's her/his way or the highway. If I tried help help the person, she/he goes limp on purpose in spite of my help. Other clients have also told me to NOT do something even tho I've explained why. And then they get hurt. I guess I also have to work on my communication skills too.