questions about hoist and hook

[comnursesall]

when we use lift for mobilization, there is one image about hoist inside the webpage: http://www.ilcaustralia.org/home/search4.asp?state=WA&page=6&MC=44&MinC=1

regarding the hoist slings, there are many different colors such as red, yellow, green and blue.

what time to use red sling, yellow, green or blue? how to make a good judgement?

Meanwhile, see a lift in the attachment - eight hooks.jpg, there are eight hooks to hang the slings, they are divided into four inner hooks and four outer hooks, every time we only need to use four hooks, what time to use four inner hooks and what time to use four outer hooks?

please help.

Thanks very much.

[ZippyGBR, BSN, RN]

sling sizing depends on the build, body habitus and size of the patient - too small a sling and they simply won't fit - too large a sling or misplaced sling you can slide out bottom first

again exact hook choice will depend on the build, size and body habitus of your patient.

[comnursesall]

thanks.

if the rear two slings use red color, should the front two slings use the same red color?

[BOOYARN]

YOU MUST WORK AT A GREAT HOSPITAL!!! because i have never in my eight years as a nurse seen lift with different slings,,,,, its one size fits all patient size ,,,,,,,and we call them HOYER lifts down here

sorrry couldnt be more help!

[ZippyGBR, BSN, RN]

YOU MUST WORK AT A GREAT HOSPITAL!!! because i have never in my eight years as a nurse seen lift with different slings,,,,, its one size fits all patient size ,,,,,,,and we call them HOYER lifts down here

sorrry couldnt be more help!

even though they are missing out on a billing opportunity ? we haver single patient use slings that are binned on discharge or if contaminated / damaged

just to rub it in 6 out of 8 single rooms and all 6 4 bedded bays have tracking hoists so due the HDU area and we've two ordinary hoists, a scoop hoist and 2 standing hoists

[Indy, LPN, LVN]

This is the kind of thing that you learn to use, by actually using it. When you have the patient on the sling there should be enough room around the sling for the hooks to come up a bit and attach to the hooks, with the hook part of the sling lowered over the patient.

Also before getting to the hooking up of the sling, you should spread the legs on the lift and lock the wheels. I forgot that ONLY ONCE and I won't forget again. Whatever way you hook it up, it should be symmetrical. If your patient has no legs then the bottom part of the sling should be hooked closer to the top of the sling to keep the patient from sliding right out.

Again, you ahve to play with it and have someone with you who can show you how this thing is used. It is really hard to explain without actually showing you.

[LoveMyBugs, BSN, CNA, RN]

thanks.

if the rear two slings use red color, should the front two slings use the same red color?

Yes, the colors match up, also the leg slings need to cross

[comnursesall]

does anybody have solid document to evidence this kind of analysis?

[ZippyGBR, BSN, RN]

does anybody have solid document to evidence this kind of analysis?

this may sound facetious but how about the documentation supplied by the manufacturers of the hoists and slings in use ...

[comnursesall]

if you don't document to support your practice, how do you know what you did is correct? what is the underlying rationales? I guess some hospitals probably will provide some documents to RNs to check the correct practice.

I think some experinced RNs know how to accurately operate hoist and slings.

Hopefully they can help us.

[CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN]

Wow...you need to get an inservice on this one and fast. We use slings and lifts in ltc. Each machine is going to be different and have their own sling that should be used. There will be different sized slings too.

Using the wrong sling or attaching it wrong and having a patient fall out of one of them and get hurt is an excellent lawsuit waiting to happen. (I've seen one before...not my direct facility tho)

Normally, you will want to attach the tightest hook setting that you can and all of them will be the same color.

if you don't document to support your practice, how do you know what you did is correct? what is the underlying rationales? I guess some hospitals probably will provide some documents to RNs to check the correct practice.

I think some experinced RNs know how to accurately operate hoist and slings.

??? I'm a bit confused by the last post. As far as the rational to use a lift...too heavy to lift, you are alone, or your facility could have a no lift policy. As far as how you know what you did is correct...I'd assume you were trained on proper use or if you didn't know..you would ask? This is probably different in the hospital setting tho, but still the basic principals apply. If you don't know how you use something correctly...ask for help and don't do it until you do.

We document transfer status in CNA charting and in other assessments.