Need advice on body mechanics

[ekgoodwi]

Hi there, I am a student nurse who would appreciate tips on body mechanics/client movement techniques. We learned a bit in class but it was quickly taught and not very thorough. I am 5'11 (6'1" with my shoes on!) and very small framed. Any other tall skinny nurses out there with advice? I'm particularly worried about moving clients that are shorter from the bed to a chair/commode. Should the bed be at my height or close to the floor for a shorter pt? I already get some pain in my thoracic spine from bending over to do basic care things. Thanks! :)

[realnursealso/LPN, LPN]

http://www.brooksidepress.org/Products/Nursing_Fundamentals_1/lesson_4_Section_1.htm

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

DONT LIFT!

Use mechanical devices. There's no safe way to lift a human being larger than a toddler. There is a ton of research out there about this, but very little (surprise?) of it is in the nursing literature. Mechanical devices have been proven to be the only safe way to lift, but nurses are still falling for the 'if only you would have used good body mechanics' response when we are blamed for incidents that turn our spines into oatmeal.

Work for & support facilities that have a 'no lift' policy.

[ladybugbaby161]

I work in ortho nursing and we got a quick run-through about how to move people as well - and ortho is pretty much moving people from bed to commode to chair back to bed...lol. I'm 5'9 and was really hurting my back until a physical therapist came and worked with us and I learned that I was pretty much destroying my back by the way I was bending and trying to lift heavy back-surgery patients. When you are doing cares and they are in bed, RAISE the bed! You get sore leaning over patient after patient. When you are transferring a patient from the bed to a commode, the bed should be in position so that the pt's feet are on the floor. Wrap em in a gait belt, stand right in front of them, keep your back straight, and help lift them by using your knees. If it is a larger pt, ask for help! It will be safer for you and the pt. If you get a chance, ask the physical therapist to show you some maneuvers because they are a great resource.