Fractured HIP patient - Need question answered

[lcbaird]

I manage a general med/surg was that has some (mostly geriatric) orthopedics. We often have fractured hip patients who stay pre op for at least 24 hours prior to going to OR for repair. We just had a fractured hip patient who was scheduled for a bipolar prothesis as a repair since his fracture broke the femoral head. Several of my nurses moved him (with his hip splinted) from the bed to a gurney on a slide board and the OR supervisor insists that we violated a common standard of care that you never move a fractured hip. Our Nurse practitioners who cover these patients disagree and believe that the patients need to be moved to prevent numerous complications (i.e. dvt's, pneumonia). I understand that you would certainly stablilze a fracture by splinting but we move patients from bed to gurney to take to Xray, CAT scan and we turn them Q2 while in bed. Is there anyone that can tell me what you do, as this had gone to the Chief Nurse who wants me to look for references and standards to support our practice. Help! :uhoh21:

[NRSNFL]

Ok. This is a little different than the above question, but also about moving. Pt found on floor, no complaints of pain, no noted injuries. CSM fine, no difference in the two legs ect. ect. Patient was placed back in bed by staff, THEN complained of hip pain. Was it wrong to move him? He did get sent out for eval and did have a fracture.

Well, was he 90 and confused as most of the falls are? No, moving him back into bed where he is safe with a very loud bed alarm is a great idea. What was the alternative? Leaving him on the floor? How would you NOT have moved him in this case?