QUESTION

It puts unnecessary strain on the back and neck. The best place to grab is the triceps, so when I tell a patient to grab me I say just above the elbow and I point to my triceps.

WOW! ANOTHER hw question? TASIA, if you are cutting corners now, I can only imagine how you will try to cut corners later on if you pass your boards.

the weight of the patient could also pull u down. it might seem like a supportive move but u really couldn't be in a supportive stance that would allow you to brace yourself and the patient...at least safely:specs:

You should never allow a patient to put their hands around your neck when lifting them from bed. This allows for the patient to pull you down with them if they should fall. I am currently working as a PCT while I'm in nursing school and this was the first lesson I learned the hard way. I didn't ask the patient to clasp their hand around my neck...she just DID and I am now in physical therpay trying to fix what she did to my neck. This manuever is not safe for you OR the patient.

IT is completely unsafe! You need to watch out for YOU! You could easily break your neck in a fall or a slip. I tend to tell my patients to NOT hang on to me. I can hang on to them. USE YOUR GAIT BELT! With proper body mechanics you can easily prevent a fall or safely help a patient to the floor if need be... without injury to either of you.

Besides if you got hurt at work by doing that you would not be receiving any workman's comp.

Re: QUESTIONWOW! ANOTHER hw question? TASIA, if you are cutting corners now, I can only imagine how you will try to cut corners later on if you pass your boards.

That seems a little harsh, its just a question. But there are plenty of answers here so I do not need to add my own.

I'm sorry but why does this sound like a common sense question?

I'm sorry but why does this sound like a common sense question?

Asking why things are done a certain way is good nursing practice, whatever level you're on. Why harsh on the OP?

No way, definitely not good to have someone clasp you around the neck to lift them. My back spasmed just reading that.

I brace their feet and knees, explain what's going to happen, encourage them to help as much as they can, and follow through with good body mechanics as we rise and stand. If I sense they're reticent, or if they start to move to grab around my neck, I stop, and explain why that's not good, try to get them more comfortable/safe feeling, and we try again. Usually I've found that if they're grabbing at you like that, and they have some ability to help you as they stand, it's because they think you're supposed to support their entire weight, instead of them helping you to help them stand. And if they feel that way, it leads to them feeling insecure and unsafe. The confusion can end with you both falling and hurting yourselves. Hence the need to keep encouraging them to help, and explain simply what you're doing and what they're going to be doing in return.

We were taught in depth about body mechanics in school, and were shown it umpteen times by the instructors, and then we had to demonstrate our knowledge of it umpteen times in return. I have a rotten back already, so I'm happy that body mechanics can take a lot of the stress and strain out of the equation.

I'm hoping your instructors are going to teach you about good body mechanics, Tasia. Just reading your question made my neck ache.

It is never good to let someone use your neck as support. That is the perfect set up to get yourself hurt.

As far as the other people being harsh to the OP, think back to when you were new. Lets not be harsh on her. I'd rather her ask a question that others might think is stupid, rather her do the wrong thing and hurt herself or someone else. It may seem like common sense to us seasoned CNA's but it takes a little extra work for the newbies. Lets not assume she is cutting corners because she asked a question. I am still trying to figure out how Nicu BabyRN figures this person is cutting corners by asking if someone should use her neck as support.