Beware of hand-cranks on hospital beds.....sad.

Nurses General Nursing

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Last night I was working agency at a local SNF on the rehab unit, when I heard a horrible scream. Several staff & myself ran to the directon of the scream, thinking it was a patient; it was a nurse..she was standing holding her hands over her face, blood everywhere. Apparently, she was cranking the pt's bed and I guess it was torqued as far as it could be tightened, and for some unknown reason (defective ?) the hand-crank & apparatus flew off & hit her between the eyes/nose area. We called 911 and she was taken to the local hospital. She called later and said that her nose was broken in 3 places & that since she was so swollen, she would have to wait a week to have surgery.

Isn't that horrible that a simple hand-crank, could fly off like that & do so much damage. I think of all the times I have had to crank beds that are non-electric. So scary and sad for that poor nurse. She could have easily lost an eye.

Lizzie

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Terrible and weird. I hope she gets the care she needs and isn't in too much pain.

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How awful and scary! I only have a tiny bit of experience with hand-crank beds in our skills labs at school. I've never heard of anything like that happening...that's really horrible :( I hope she feels better soon!

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Specializes in LTC.

That's horrible!

I always knew those hand crank beds were evil.

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Beds still have hand cranks??? I haven't seen those in about 6 years!

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Specializes in Psych, Med/Surg, LTC.

I hope she is ok. I hate those beds. Some people forget to tuck the cranks back under, and I have tripped over the cranks several times. I wish those beds would be banned already. Not to mention they are inconvienent for the patients, (and staff) since they can't adjust the bed themselves.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, , Home health, Education.
Beds still have hand cranks??? I haven't seen those in about 6 years!

When I started in Nursing in 79 that was the only type bed we had in our hospital. I can't tell you how many times I'd slam my shins into the cranks if someone forgot to fold them back up. I haven't seen any of them fly off though. Seems like they should eliminate them as a risk factor.

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You know I am thinking that her injuries and lost wages are covered by workmens comp. I am also thinking that there is a defective product law suit here. That is if the people that made that bed are even in business anymore. Not a suit for suit sake but a way of getting the word out that those old beds are dangerous.

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I hope she is ok. I hate those beds. Some people forget to tuck the cranks back under, and I have tripped over the cranks several times. I wish those beds would be banned already. Not to mention they are inconvienent for the patients, (and staff) since they can't adjust the bed themselves.

Yeah...I too have tripped over those cranks. Also, banging your knuckles while turning those handles hurt too! Ouch! You are right, patients can't adjust their beds & it is not fair to the staff that has to constantly go in the rooms to do this. In my area, A LOT of nursing homes still have those crank beds...how archaic & dangerous!

I spoke to one my friends today who works on that unit, & she said the nurse that got hurt yesterday evening will have to take sick leave per the DON, no workman's comp. I think they are trying to save money & don't think this nurse will file a law suit since she is very quiet/meek. I hope she called a lawyer today, because that darn bed is so old, that the tension on that crank was bound to break eventually. Sheeesh! This is the same place that NEVER has enough chuck pads for the patients, let alone hand towels! GRRRRRRRR!

Lizzie

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That's sad. I'm thankful that she wasn't hurt worse and hope that she gets better soon.

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guess what?Iwork in a geri/psysh unit and we just got new beds...yep,YOU guessed it,,,,they are the kind that you have to hand crank . we could not believe it.but what do you expect,,,it only took us a year to get beds with siderails.,,

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Specializes in OB/GYN,L&D,FP office,LTC.

thought all work injuries were covered under workmans comp.The injured nurse needs to speak to someone re her rights.In my state there is a toll free number to call the state workmans comp,they will walk you through the process,send necessary paperwork and were generally helpful.

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