Providing AM Care

[HappyMeNow]

This may sound like a really silly question, but could I gest some suggestions when it comes to changing a bed when a patient is on it. This patient would be bed ridden, very hard to turn due to pain on both hips and cannot raise himself to stand up in bed. On top of that, this patient is incontient and soils himself often due to the movement of care.

So in situations like this, is it possible to take care of it alone or do you absolutely need backup? I was fortunate enough to get backup for him today. I tried all I could but there was just no way I could lift him any more, I felt too weak to do it.

Any suggestions?

[Kristyn, RN]

Sounds like a 2 (maybe even 3) person task at minimum. Don't hurt yourself, get the help you need.

[loriangel14, RN]

This definitely sounds like a job for at least two poeople. If you could time this activity for at least 30 minutes after pain medication the patient may find it more comfortable moving. A difficult bed change is possible solo but you will be pooped when you are done.I did one of these today actually(alone) and it was very time consuming.

[NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN]

This is a job for two. Here are some key things that may help:

1. Raise the bed at a comfortable height for you and your coworker

2. Bend at the knees and dont strain your back

3. Use a draw sheet or chuck to place under pt. use the sheet to log roll pt. from side to side, this will also help reduce pain in the hip area due to the body rolling as one unit

Hope this helps !!! Good luck

[cherrybreeze, ADN, RN]

While it may be possible to provide these cares alone, it's not worth trying to do so, for several reasons. It's going to take longer, but more importantly, you risk injuring yourself or the patient. You stated that you felt too weak to finish it alone today, and that means that there's a good chance you could hurt yourself (like injuring your back) trying to do it alone. It's also much harder, if not impossible, to maintain the pt's body in proper alignment alone, so it will be more painful for the patient if you do it alone.

I worked as a CNA in a NH for five years before taking my current RN job. Due to staffing levels, etc, I did a lot of lifting/turning, etc, alone, that in hindsight I should have gotten help with (we all did). Now, I'm only 30 and have degenerative changes in my back and constant back pain. That won't get better, but I do my best now not to make it any worse. Hands on patient care is HARD on the body, and after doing it now almost half my life, it shows! Get help with the heavy stuff, and remember your proper body mechanics.

[LA_StudentNurse]

A Hoyer lift (prefer the electric type) works well and will save your back.

[metfan]

It was this type of patient that really made me more assertive and ask for help. It is just not worth getting hurt. Plus, it will take you so much longer and be more uncomfortable for the patient. I am a nursing student and have been "talked to" about being too slow. When I tried to explain to my teacher why (patient was bedbound) she said "ask for help". Being a shy person, I never wanted to bother another person. Now I ask during preconference. If I know from doing my reseach that my patient is going to be difficult to move, I state "I am going to need help so whoever has time please check with me". It always works out that some students have "difficult" patients while others have totally independent patients. We help each other. Metfan