Hoyer Lift

[mvm2]

I am an a new aide for a home care, and starting tomarrow with a new client that requires a hoyer. I have gone through the hoyer lift training, but i am a bit nervous because lifting a person is still different then lifting a dummy. One of the reasons i am nervous about this is that she has really sore knees and arms, neck has fallen out of the hoyer twice, and she has had other close calls I will be doing this alone as well, so my nerves are at a high level.

Is there any advise that i can be given to use these where I am not hurting her, and she is a tiny women and it is a slippery matterial, so I think that is why she is falling out of the hoyer. Anything i can do to make sure she is safer? Thanks

[rngolfer53]

I am an a new aide for a home care, and starting tomarrow with a new client that requires a hoyer. I have gone through the hoyer lift training, but i am a bit nervous because lifting a person is still different then lifting a dummy.

Check the IQ of the Pt. As you gain experience, you'll realize the dummy training fully prepared you for dealing with some Pts. :rotfl:

[PerfectlyPlump, ADN, RN]

RNgollfer53,

If you are referring to a patient, I find that statement (or joke) to be unprofessional and mean.

How fast the years fly!

[BloomNurseRN, ASN, BSN, RN]

I like what one person said about making sure to cross the straps between the patient's legs. Sometimes it's easy to forget that.

Also, MAKE SURE YOU PUT ON THE BRAKES. I say that clearly because it's easy to forget and it's SO important. During my last semester of nursing school we got to do a team leading day with the freshman students. I was the leader for a day in a nursing home and watched two students using the Hoyer. I let them get to the moment of HAVING to put on the brake, hoping they would, before I finally said "are you forgetting anything?" They were definitely embarrassed and of course hated that I saw it but I encouraged them to use it as a reminder of what to do in the future.

You will get a rhythm down and get more comfortable as you do it more often. :-)