do you have to be strong to be a transporter?

xtxrn, ASN, RN · Oct 22, 2011

Moving ANY size patient on a gurney that probably weighs 200 pounds empty (easily). Some people who look small are quite strong.

Getting someone moving isn't as hard as steering or STOPPING in a hurry :)

JulieCVICURN, BSN, RN · Oct 22, 2011

Just normal strength with no issues like back problems should be able to handle it. I'm not particularly strong even though I'm not a 100 lb girl (I'm a bigger girl than that!), but those carts are in general pretty easy to maneuver and push around. Yes, even with a big fattie on them. I was able to push 400lb patients on enormous airbeds around the hospital for tests with only one other person to help "drive" so we didn't run into walls when I was working the ICU. As a transporter, you probably would mainly deal with the Stryker carts.

roser13, ASN, RN · Oct 22, 2011

Height may be an issue....if you're 100 lbs, you're likely not all that tall. Being short can really be a hindrance while moving patients and wrangling carts.

lkk0718 · Oct 22, 2011

I did one day of orientation in transport. Wheelchairs (patient room to radiology, new admit, etc.) ICU transfers to telemetry, ED transfers to patient room. I would personally think twice about it. The ICU and ED carts are pretty big and bulky to move around. Trying to maneuver a big bed into a small hospital room and then transferring patient from bed to bed was difficult. FYI, all of our transporters at guys.

I don't think height would be an issue because I lifted up the carts to my height so I could move them around easier.

beast master RN · Oct 22, 2011

could be , i would ask your possible future employer about it

I<3H2O, BSN, RN · Oct 23, 2011

Go to the interview! Start there and then make your decision.

emmanewgrad · Oct 23, 2011

Good Luck! :)

dudette10, MSN, RN · Oct 23, 2011

Height may be an issue....if you're 100 lbs, you're likely not all that tall. Being short can really be a hindrance while moving patients and wrangling carts.

Being taller than your coworkers is a hindrance too. I swear to heavens that all my coworkers are three feet tall. For boosts and clean ups, I raise the bed to my height, they say, "HEY!" and lower it to their height, then I say "HEY!" and we compromise. :lol2:

pixiestudent2 · Oct 23, 2011

thanks everyone im going to go to the interview and see if its something i can do