I have difficulty ambulating/moving patients--any advice?

loriangel14, RN · Oct 10, 2013

It shouldn't matter how small you are. Transferring patients from bed to chair or whatever does not mean "lifting" the patient.If the patient is not able to get up under their own power, or minimal assist then you shouldn't be trying to transfer them on your own.You should have learned in school to safety assist a patient to transfer.Granted it is easier to transfer if you are a taller person but really strength shouldn't come into it. You back will be ruined in no time if you think you are going to "lift" people into the chair.

We have a physiotherapist that is about 4'8" and very slight.

KelRN215, BSN, RN · Oct 10, 2013

You don't have to be tall or strong to transfer patients. You just need to have good body mechanics.

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Oct 10, 2013

Suggest you ask your clinical faculty to schedule a PT to come to post conference to do some demos. Have a chair and a wheelchair handy. Or use an empty room with bed and chair, or go to the PT dept and watch and learn.

Also volunteer to be the demo patient-- it will give you a big shot of empathy of how scary it is to need someone to help you do something so basic, especially if your butt is hanging out of a hospital gown.

classicdame, MSN, EdD · Oct 11, 2013

Get a gait belt and write your name on it. Talk to a PT aide about how to use it. We have this requirement for every CNA in our facility and it really helps with transfers as well as decreasing staff injuries.

Aurora77 · Oct 11, 2013

Talk to the CNAs you encounter in clinicals. Watch what they do and ask them questions. Just like any other nursing skill, learning to transfer patients takes time and practice.

Jenngirl34RN · Oct 12, 2013

Mostly using a gait belt and using the proper techniques will work, but the fact is that if someone is a lot bigger than you are and they need a lot of help transferring from a bed to a wheelchair you will need to either get help from someone or use a lift. My skill lab instructor told us to always err on the side of caution, and that we should always ask for help if we have a client much larger than we are just to be safe.

MendedHeart · Oct 12, 2013

I work for a lift free hospital. We are not aloud to lift greater that 30 % of our body weight. Maybe look for a hospital or facility that has a lift free polucy

springchick1, ADN, RN · Oct 13, 2013

Ask for help. Grab a CNA, another nurse, or another student to come and help you. If you don't feel comfortable soon it alone, don't. That's how accidents can happen. The last thing you want is for your patient to fall.

ChipNurse · Oct 15, 2013

I second asking a PT for help. Maybe explain to your instructor that you are struggling with that and ask to shadow the PT for the day. I felt the same way when I first started my aide job. I followed the PT for the day and that really helped. Also, when in doubt, grab another person..it's always okay to have more help available for the sake of the patient's safety. As for areas where ambulating is not common... every specialty would require ambulating patients as ambulating is beneficial for preventing DVTs, pneumonia, etc. If you want to stay away from tough ambulating situations, then avoid rehab and ortho. However, when you get a nursing job, chances are you may float to these areas, and you are responsible for knowing how to safely transfer patients. Heck, I work in an ICU and we ambulate patients with chest tubes, and tons of lines all the time.

loriangel14, RN · Oct 16, 2013

The OP should have learned this in school. We spent considerable time in the lab practising transfers and it was one of our skill check offs.