Why lift foot of bed up to lift pts in bed?

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Is the new thing? I've noticed several CNA and nurses lift the foot of the bed to the highest possible(while the head stays flat) and then lift them in bed?  

I do not understand why. That makes the majority of the patient's weight go to the center and makes it harder actually to lift them up with the turning sheet and cotton chux. Also,the feet seem to get stuck. The nurses claimed it makes the patients slide up easier,but they are not supposed to slide up anyway. We are supposed to lift them up to prevent shearing. 

Specializes in oncology.

When we got new beds the "Company Bed Rep" boasted  that the ability to raise the FOB up would help all with sliding patients up in bed. He was so proud of that, and the CNAs in the room smiled.  Boy that caught on with the  non RN staff. Then I saw the CNAs raising the FOB with someone who had increased ICP to slide them up. . The non RN staff do not know what they don't know. 

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7 hours ago, Tweety said:

For me it was "you have to be able to perform CPR and lift 65 lbs. to return to work.".   It didn't say "the maximum weight you are ever required to lift is 65 lbs."  

I suspect that it does indeed mean what you think it doesn’t. ?. If they expected that your job would entail lifting 100 lbs they wouldn’t say you can’t come back unless you can lift 65. They would say stay home unless you can meet the job requirements/lift 100. 
 

In general a job description isn’t going to say that you need to be able to lift 75 lbs if what you need to be able to lift is 150. 
 

are we saying the same thing? 

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Specializes in Med-Surg.
34 minutes ago, JKL33 said:

are we saying the same thing? 

Since I have no idea what you're saying I can't say.  LOL

But doesn't make sense to talk about it further.  Thanks for your input.

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Specializes in Private Duty Pediatrics.
On 12/27/2022 at 12:28 AM, Kitiger said:

I do private duty home care. 

To scoot a patient to the top of the bed, I use a satin-type sheet on top of the fitted sheet - with the slipperiest side up - with a draw sheet over that. The draw sheet is positioned under the patient from shoulders to the feet.

To scoot the patient up, I position my arms between the draw sheet and the satin sheet, under the patient's shoulders and buttocks, and scoot the patient & draw sheet up toward the head of the bed. Be careful that you don't let the patient's head hit the headboard!

I don't have to lift the patient up off of the bed to move him - he will slide easily. And shearing is not possible, since the patient does not move on the draw sheet; the draw sheet moves on the satin sheet.

I would add that - when possible - standing at the head of the bed and pulling the patient toward you is a safer and much easier way to slide the patient up in bed. Just grab the draw sheet and pull toward you.

And raising the foot of the bed allows you to work with, instead of against, gravity. 

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Specializes in Pediatrics Telemetry CCU ICU.
On 12/31/2022 at 10:00 AM, JKL33 said:

ETA: These things have consequences for workers comp too (I would assume) in the following way: Your job expects that you should be able to manually lift 75 lbs. What were you doing trying to lift 150 lbs? “We have tools for that, you didn’t use them, you didn’t follow policy, you’re out of luck…”

Theres just nothing about this that would suggest it’s to be taken as minimum. 

Our hospital literally has NO tools.  We have NO Hoyer lift.  The only slideboard we have is for transfer.  so we have Chux pads and a draw sheet and beds that can go into Trendelenburg.  So if a patient slides down to the end of the bed, and is 200 lbs or more, those are the tools we have.  

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Yes, I understand that; it really has nothing to do with what I was writing about.

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Tweety said:

Since I have no idea what you're saying I can't say.  LOL

Noted.

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Specializes in Pediatrics Telemetry CCU ICU.
londonflo said:

When we got new beds the "Company Bed Rep" boasted  that the ability to raise the FOB up would help all with sliding patients up in bed. He was so proud of that, and the CNAs in the room smiled.  Boy that caught on with the  non RN staff. Then I saw the CNAs raising the FOB with someone who had increased ICP to slide them up. . The non RN staff do not know what they don't know. 

A patient with ICP would most likely be in the ICU.  I don't know many ICU's that utilize PCTs and if they do those PCTs are specially trained AND take report with us nurses.  Either way, with the knowledge of this person with ICP should not be placed in Trendelenburg, the nurse should make it a point to tell anyone (family, other nurses, PCTs etc).  Most of the newer beds also have HOB locks on them also to prevent inadvertent unsafe positioning.  Raising the foot of the bed is not necessarily lowering the head of the bed either.  We could also place a sign at the head of the bed on the wall.  "Do Not Place Patient in Trendelenberg, keep HOB at 45 degrees at all times." Safe repositioning of a patient needs to go both ways...safe for the patient and safe for the nurses.  

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Specializes in oncology.
explorereb96 said:

A patient with ICP would most likely be in the ICU.

In our oncology unit, we have many patients with brain tumors. We have some ICU beds. We do not transfer them. 

explorereb96 said:

Most of the newer beds also have HOB locks on them also to prevent inadvertent unsafe positioning.

That would be great. But bringing up the FOB as the preciously poster said might  turn the patient into a 'sandwich'?

Please do not assume that your hospital's practices, bed placement, use of PCTs, and staff education is universal. 

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