two people for hoyer lift-why?

CNA2day · May 20, 2010

What kind of hoyer do you guys use?

http://images03.olx.com/ui/1/88/66/1148266_1.jpg This is the most common one we have. We do have an ezlift but it is only used on a few residents-I don't like it!

The one like in the picture has a sling that goes up on the sides and goes down around to under the residents knees. Almost like laying in a hammock.

As long as you place the sling correctly and you make sure it is properly hooked up to the lift I really do not see needing two people in the room. I probably focus better without the other person there. I understand that "stuff happens" but you severely minimize the risk if you are thorough. I only know of one lift accident with my facility and it was in a stand up lift... which no one on here is saying you need two people for.

I have no problems asking for, giving, or receiving help when needed.

I still do not feel like I need it in this case, and I am very surprised that everyone else feels the need. I am more inclined to ask for help if pivot transfering a resident as the chance of falling would be higher so would the chance of potential risk to either me or the resident.

I think that this is an interesting discussion.

sadiemae76 · Oct 25, 2013

I am a CNA of 3 years now I have worked in plenty of nursing homes and my most recent job has got to be the most annoying. I have never worked in a facility where you had to have 2 people for the sit to stand lift. This is completely ridiculous to me, they already are giving each aide 19 residents a piece (which is way over the limit) then you have to go and hunt other aides down to put someone down using the sit to stand. Most of the times they are busy then you have to wait, next thing you know trays are out before you even get the chance to see if all of your residents are dry and taken care of. The full body lift understandable but the sit to stand? That is making our jobs even more difficult than it already is. CNA'S are the most over worked under paid group in the healthcare change but nobody cares.I will be so glad when I get out of it, I wouldn't recommend this crap to nobody. I am just trying to do my job and you are telling me I can't unless I have 2 people..smh its sad!!

JDZ344 · Oct 27, 2013

Our hoists require somebody 2 people, minimum

Also, if anything DOES happen, the second person can go for help whilst the first one stays with the client.

pfongk · Oct 29, 2013

Every facility I have ever worked in has required at least 2 people for all hoist usage. I have worked with an AIN who ended up with criminal charges laid against them after a resident fell out of a full hoist and died when they were using it on their own. At most of the facilities I have worked at, family members have been able to assist with transferring their family members if they have been assessed as competent by the physiotherapist and have registered as a volunteer, this means they have had the appropriate criminal history checks done, have done their first aid certificate and have attended all the mandatory training that AINs attend.

Compassion_x · Nov 3, 2013

Try getting a patient/resident from bed to wheelchair by yourself. Lift them up, position the life so they're by their wheelchair, then get behind the wheelchair, pull the sling back so they're in a sitting position instead of laying, and keep them that way while walking around to the front if the lift and push the down button. Please tell me how easy that is for you.

allnurses Guide · Nov 4, 2013

Just Google "Hoyer lift death":

98-Year-Old's Drop from Hoyer Lift Results in Six-Figure Settlement of Berks County, Pennsylvania Nursing Home Case Against Large Nationwide Nursing Home Chain

Nursing home negligence - Negligent use of Hoyer lift - Jury Verdicts

Failure to follow care plan requiring assistance of two with Hoyer lift results in severe injuries and death for resident and indictment for CNAs for felony manslaughter and cover-up | Sholes & Miller LLP

Hoyer Lift Accidents and Nursing Home Falls | The Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C.

There's a lot more out there on the web.

You need at least two staff because it is very difficult to maneuver the lift and spot any potential problems a the same time.

There have been times where we have been working the lift and the lifting partner says something like, "Whoa! Lower 'em back down! It's not hooked on all the way!" or the partner needs to adjust the position of the chair or whatever.

If you can't find help, then I guess that patient isn't going anywhere until you get it.

It's not worth it.

It's not about getting done on time and it's not about anyone's Super Aide skills... it's about transferring the patient safely.

liketheairport · Nov 25, 2013

I'm not a CNA (yet), but it's kind of like when I worked at Target and we had those "team lift" bright yellow stickers. Yes, you CAN move that dresser in-a-box on your own, but the question really is, SHOULD you? I always asked for help, because while it may be a pain to find someone else to help you, it's really a case of what's safe for the patient AND safe for you.

Also, you really need to CYA most anywhere you work. You never know when someone's ire is going to get up and they decide to let a legal shark loose on you. (I've studied paralegal, there's some really fun laws about negligence!)

applesxoranges, BSN, RN · Nov 29, 2013

CNA2day said:
I see on here that many people have to have two people in the room to perform a hoyer lift on a resident. I do not understand this. Why do you need two people?
As long as the sling is positioned properly and you are using the right size there is really no risk to the resident that I can see.
Our facility does not have this policy and I can't understand why this is even a policy?
It just seems like a rule that is set up to be broken!
Can someone enlighten me!?

Well the hoyer lift really takes the lifting out. However, I think it is the manufacture's requirement and it is lowers liability if the patient starts to freak out. Some people have had their feet bumped too if they don't move the right way.

allnurses Guide · Nov 29, 2013

applesxoranges said:
Well the hoyer lift really takes the lifting out.

And that's ALL that lift is doing.

It's purpose isn't to allow you to do it by yourself.

The point is to save your back... and it can actually be a gentler transfer for patients who are very fragile.

But you need two people, because someone has to run it and someone needs to spot it.

I never understood why people kick up a big fuss about the lifts and using them properly.

If an aide only thinks about completing tasks without consideration for safety, then that, my friends, is a very very scary aide.

For those who insist that it is a foolish waste of time to get two aides, you may feel differently when: the lift gets stuck, a hook comes undone, the patient slides or the whole thing tips over.

Then there is the temptation not to use the lift at all.

I have a particularly nasty story about that one.

kenya1005 · Nov 30, 2013

One person operates the remote while the other guides the sling... it's easy for the sling to turn and you don't want the resident to turn and hit his/her head on the bar in the back. I've never heard of not using 2 people, but I'm sure in low-staffed settings it happens.

loriangel14, RN · Dec 2, 2013

When I worked in home care I had many clients that had a lift in the home.In this case I had to operate it alone.Best practice is to have two people.One to operate the lift and one to guide the patient.

BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN · Dec 2, 2013

I've never been hit by a train or won the lottery either, but that doesn't mean it can't happen...