heavy lifting

[nads786]

im going to be entering the program this fall, and i was wondering how much lifting nurses have to do in comparison to CNAs? I worked as a CNA at a LTC and it was all lifting every patient, is this how it is at a hospital as a nurse?

[lpnornot]

We have a no lift policy at my 320 bed LTC facility, as does most LTC facilities in my area. We have ceiling track passive mechanical lifts installed in most rooms, and also make heavy use of active lifts and low friction transfer sheets, sliders and rolls.

Our policy is that if a patient cannot perform a transfer with only minimal elbow guidance of staff, they become a lift of some sort, whether passive or active if they can still weight bear.

Now this sounds encouraging. what state is this. This is the way it should be done as far as I know. and if I could be assured that I could work in this kind of facility I would go for LPN license, otherwise no way. too dangerosu.

[lpnornot]

I always have my back support on

I always get help

I always wear copper

I always wear magnets

I always wear my crystal also

There is no evidence that supports the use of back support to protect the back. Some studies have shown that they give a false sense of security and lead the caregiver to lift more than they would otherwise. The do not support or protect the spine so it will still get damaged wiht lifitng beyond 35lbs accoding to experts.

Getting help-if the shared weight is still over 35lbs damage to spine will ensue

[nads786]

wow alot of new dicussion,

in my current clinical experience, i really have not had to move any patients

for whatever reason, besides adjusting so far

but i can tell you, i worked as a CNA for 3 months, and the first day i was

there we had to lift a 300+ women from her bed to wheel chair, i really

strained my lower back, i couldnt even do anything the rest of my 8 hr shift

on top of that i didnt say anything bc it was my first day (ya real smart)

but luckily the strain was healed within 2 weeks, no harm

[Atheos]

Aren't back braces intended to prevent hernias and not back injuries? Not sure of this but heavy lifters in competitions and such use it for this purpose. Anyone have any ideas about this???

[SteveNNP, MSN, NP]

The problem with back braces is that if worn too much, your back and abdominal muscles atrophy....predisposing you to more injuries....

[CaLLaCoDe, BSN, RN]

My first experience with heavy lifting of a patient occurred when I was in CNA clinical and a man about my height, totally and entirely muscular was being transferred from bed to chair. I don't know if he had a penchant for destroying nurse's backs, but when I and the other assistant were lifting this "beast", I felt every vertebrae in my back lock down and compress with this tremendous weight that I swear I thought I had had a compression fracture somewhere.

I just remember thinking to myself following this disasterous transfer, this guy did nothing to assist us with the lift whatsoever! Perhaps it was a neural disease he was fighting, I really don't know. I however was totally not on guard at the time. From then on I learned not to repeat the same mistake in the future!

Now, when I assist a patient, I'll say: "You're doing most of the work, I am here to ease you to earth rather than catch you when you fall.":smokin:

[CITCAT]

:yeah:first of all i want tothankyou for having the courage to become a R.N I am a lpn and for the past 20 years i have pushed pulled, and lifted patients,with lifts and with assistance. I fyou don mind be being blunt here Being a RN is not going to lessen your work load you mus learn time manangement,and go the gym 2 times a week work out strengthed your core muscles and try some tai chi for relation and mediation to reduce stress GO FOR IT KID WE NEED MALE NURSES signing off for now a veryi tired old nursey hehehe.