Is there a correct way to crank a bed?

[optimist]

The SNF I work in has got to be the most outdated and cheaply run facility in the area. All 235 beds in the building are the old fashioned crank beds. So for every care given during the day, the bed must be rolled up to working height and then rolled all the way down again to prevent fall injury. Imagine cranking up the bed on 300lb patients all day long! Not only are my shins black and blue from bumping into the cranks at the end of the bed but my back and arms are starting to give out. Does anyone know the most ergonomically correct way to get down to the cranks near the floor and crank them up?? (it takes some muscle). I dont get it, this place is all about preventing work injuries but they wont replace these dinosaurs.

[handyrn]

Ha! While I can sympathize with you, I can also out-do you. The facility I recently worked at (not anymore) had the old crank beds that you could crank up heads and feet, but not raise the bed itself. Also, most of them had the wheels removed so they were in a fixed place. Squeezing between bed and wall presented challenges!

Sorry, I don't know any good suggestions. Go online and look for grants for new beds?

[merlee]

Call OSHA and complain about these unsafe monstrosities.

Best wishes!

[Double-Helix, BSN, RN]

When you have to crank a bed, squat down, keeping your back straight rather than bending over. Brace yourself with one hand against the bed while you crank with the other hand. Try to use your arm muscles to push the crank forward, rather than twisting with your back muscles.

Keep a chair in the patient's room and sit, if possible, during tasks like vital signs, blood draws, and other tasks that don't require standing. This will reduce the number of times you have to crank the bed. You can also pull a chair over to the end of the bed and sit while using the crank.

I agree- that facility needs new beds!

[tgoose]

Find a new facility to work in......

[DoGoodThenGo]

Whatever you do, do *NOT* bend over at the waist if you are wearing skirts. Especially in a multi-patient room and or with your back to the door. :)

I'm just sayin! *LOL*

[ebear, BSN, RN]

DoGood, you are a mess!! :rotfl:

[heartflutter, ADN, BSN]

I call them dungeon cranks and hate them with a passion.

All our Medicare patients have electric beds and the long-term care, private insurance/private pay folks have ****** crank beds.

And they pay more!

[optimist]

When you have to crank a bed, squat down, keeping your back straight rather than bending over. Brace yourself with one hand against the bed while you crank with the other hand. Try to use your arm muscles to push the crank forward, rather than twisting with your back muscles.

Keep a chair in the patient's room and sit, if possible, during tasks like vital signs, blood draws, and other tasks that don't require standing. This will reduce the number of times you have to crank the bed. You can also pull a chair over to the end of the bed and sit while using the crank.

I agree- that facility needs new beds!

Thanks~great advice

[RNTOBE_1970]

Also, the crank handle can be turned to avoid shin trauma...god, I hated those beds...and the non-fitted sheets that went with them.

[Hygiene Queen]

Yep, make sure you fold the cranks back under the bed... provided they fold back properly... or else someone's going to trip over the stupid thing.

I remember playing the "Is that high enough?/low enough? game" with some of the more demanding pts. in those crank beds.

Even a nurse or aide with the patience of a saint would eventually lose their cool and struggle to stand back up and say, "Well, try THAT for awhile!!"

It's one thing to have a pt in a nice mechanical bed saying, "Oooo just a wee back higher... no down a bit... up..." but quite another when you're down on your knees, arms aching, brow sweating and doing that!

I often felt like a slave rowing a ship, lol.

Can you tell I hated those beds?

Just use good body mechanics, as mentioned and sit on the darn floor if you have to. I knew I could always wash the cooties off my pants, but I couldn't be rid of back issues quite so easily.

Bless you!