Raising, Transferring And Positioning Patients Essay, Research Paper

Raising, Transferring and PositioningABSTRACTLifting, reassigning and placement of patients is often undertakenby nurses on each working twenty-four hours. This is necessary for patient comfort, medical grounds and completion of ego attention needs. Raising can be done countless ways. Equally good as the nurse physically raising or traveling patients, a figure of devices are besides available to help in the transportation ofpatients. These scope from straps that are attached to or placed under thepatients, to mechanical hoists and lifters. Any aid the nurse has isbeneficial for both the patient and the wellness attention worker, as patient & # 8217 ; sweights are by and large heavier than the nurses physical capablenesss. This, combined with wrong raising techniques, can ensue in musculus strain, ormore earnestly, spinal hurt for the nurse, and uncomfortableness, musculus strainor farther hurt for the patient. INTRODUCTIONWhen lifting, reassigning or positioning patients, the most importantconsideration is safety. Any of these processs need to be undertaken withit in head. This safety is inclusive of both the patient and the health care worker. Communication is an of import portion of the lifting procedure asthe nurse should arouse information from the client to happen out how and whenthey prefer to be moved. This allows the patient to be involved in thedecision devising procedure and be to the full cognizant of what is happening. Bycommunicating with the client, the nurse is besides cognizant of whether or non thepatient is sing any uncomfortableness during or after the lift. The actions of lifting, reassigning or positioning demand to be completed fornumerous grounds, including alleviation of force per unit area points. Due to the patientbeing in one place continuously, they are prone to the development ofpressure countries. In footings of patient demands, being in the same positionconstantly is physically uncomfortable. However, mentally, a alteration in theimmediate milieus is besides good for the patient. It is alsonecessary for the patient to be moved for completion of their ego careneeds. This includes their hygiene demands, which include, bathing orshowering, riddance, hair, unwritten and nail attention. { PAGE BREAK } METHODWhen raising, reassigning or positioning patients manually, safety is themost of import factor. This safety is for the nurse themselves every bit good asfor the patient. One facet of safety is for the nurse to use & # 8220 ; goodbody mechanics & # 8221 ; ( Kozier et al 1995, p.879 ) . This refers to the nurse havingbalance, which can be achieved with the pess being dispersed approximatelyshoulder width apart, which gives stableness and a & # 8220 ; broad base of support & # 8221 ; ( Kozier et al 1995, p.888 ) . Harmonizing to Kozier et Al, ( 1995 p.879 ) balanceis besides achieved by right organic structure alignment and good position. The usage ofcorrect organic structure alignment reduces the strain on musculuss and articulations, and makeslifting the clients much easier. When raising clients, the first thing the nurse should make is explicate to thepatient what they are making and inquire the patient if there is any particularway they would prefer to be moved. This allows the patient to hold someopinion about what is being done to them. The following thing that should be done when traveling a patient is a routineassessment. The nurse may measure the state of affairs by foremost detecting thepatient and reading the nursing attention program. The nurse demands to be cognizant ofthe patients capablenesss to see how much they can make or if they can assistin any manner. Another of import portion of appraisal is detecting thesurrounding environment, to be certain there is no obstructors or otherhazards which may be deleterious to the nurse or patient before, during orafter the move. The following stage is that of be aftering the move. The nurse decides how thepatient will be moved from their current place to where they are traveling. This may affect the nurse acquiring aid for the lift, either fromother wellness attention workers or by mechanical devices, such as a lifter orhoist. When traveling or raising the client, wherever possible the nurseshould have aid. This aid is necessary for both nurse andclient safety. This is supported by Kozier ( 1995 p.910 ) , who says, whereverpossible, & # 8221 ; the preferable method is to hold two or more nurses move or turn the client & # 8221 ; . When traveling clients physically, there are different types of moves that canbe used. When traveling a client up in bed, the client should be encouraged tohelp if possible. The nurse can inquire the patient to flex their articulatio genuss, sothat when the nurse is ready, the patient can help by forcing backwardswhen the nurse says. Two nurses stand on opposite sides of the bed facingeach other. With articulatio genuss dead set and legs shoulder width apart, the nurses lockforearms underneath the patient & # 8217 ; s thighs and shoulders. The nurses, on thecount of three, at the same clip as the patient is forcing backwards, reassign the weight to the legs that are in the same way that thepatient is traveling to be moved. When traveling a client from a sidelong lying place to sitting at the side ofthe bed, the first thing that the nurse should make after appraisal, is toget the patient in a side lying place. This is done by the nurse placingone manus on the client & # 8217 ; s hips and one manus on the client & # 8217 ; s shoulder. Thenurse so transfers their weight onto the back pes while at the same timerolling the client towards them. The following measure is the nurse topographic points one armunderneath the patient & # 8217 ; s shoulders and one arm underneath the articulatio genuss. Thenurse so turns on the balls of the pess while at the same clip drawing theclient & # 8217 ; s legs down on the floor. The following move is reassigning a client from the bed to a chair. Once theclient is sitting on the border of the bed, the nurse can easy travel thepatient to a chair. This process hence follows on from the procedureof sitting a client up in bed. This can be done by the usage of a & # 8220 ; reassign

belt & # 8221 ; ( Kozier 1995 p.924 ) . Before get downing the lift, the nurse must havethe wheelchair ready and parallel to th

e bed. The nurse must make sure theclient’s feet are placed flat on the floor with one foot slightly in frontof the other. The nurse then places the belt around the client’s waist. The nurse stands facing the client with their arms around the client’swaist, holding onto the belt. The nurse asks the patient to assist bytransferring the weight onto the front foot on the count of three, while atthe same time, the nurse transfers their weight onto the back foot, liftingthe client up to a standing position. The nurse supports the client untilthey are balanced when standing. The nurse and client, when ready, pivot inthe direction of the chair. The client then holds the arms of the chair asa means of support and to assist when lowering into the chair. The nursethen lowers the client into the chair, bending at the knees. The transferbelt is then removed when the nurse has assessed that the client iscomfortable and secure in the chair. The nurse should also ensure theclient has suffered no ill-effects as a result of the move. When the transfer belt is not available, Kozier (1995 p.925), recommendsthat the nurse puts both hands at the sides of the patient’s chest andcontinue the procedure in the same way. When transferring the patient from the chair to the bed, the same procedureis implemented but in reverse. However, the transfer is started, the nurseshould ensure that the bed is clean and dry. The client is then moved fromthe chair to the bed and then assisted to a lying down position. Manually lifting patients is effective, however, when able, the nurse shouldlift or transfer with a mechanical lifter. These are especially effectivein reducing the risk of injury. This is supported by Seymour (1995 p.48)who says that,”more nurses are beginning to realise the equipment’s potential forprotecting both client and carer from injury.”When using these devices, the nurse should tell the patient what is beingdone and how it is being done. Mechanical lifters either have two slings,one sling for underneath the shoulders and one for underneath the thighs orbuttocks. Other lifters have an all in one sling which extends from theclient’s upper back to lower thighs. The lifters substantially reduce thestrain on the nurse and the patient and are able to be used for alltransfers. The nurse places the sling underneath the patient and attachesthe slings to the lifter with hooks, and the nurse then controls the lifterfor the desired action. When using a mechanical lifter, some problems which may arise include thelifter being broken or unavailable. The nurse should therefore be aware ofhow to correctly manually lift the client in the event of this occurring. Another problem with mechanical lifters, according to Scott, (1995 p.106)was that mechanical devices were,”often left because staff did not feel confident enough to use them.”This highlights the fact that all staff need to be taught the correct waythat the lifters are used. The problem with lifting patients physically, is that nurses are oftenrequired to lift loads greater than they are physically able. This is dueto,”the likely mismatch between the size of a patient to be lifted and thephysical capabilities of the nurses on duty.” (Love 1995, p.38). This can lead to potential injury for nurse and client. Another problem with lifting patients manually, is that the correct liftingprocedure may not be carried out. This can lead to patient discomfort, aswell as long term back problems for the carer involved. One problem whichmay also arise from incorrect lifting techniques is the development ofpressure areas, due to the patient being dragged and not lifted across thesheets. This friction can lead to the patient developing reddened skinwhich may lead to skin breakdown. {PAGE BREAK}DISCUSSIONBy the health care worker implementing the correct lifting techniques, thenurse and the patient’s safety is not compromised in any way. Nurses shouldbe constantly aware of any new methods of lifting or transferring whicharise, so they are able to maximise the level of safety for themselves aswell as for the patients. By the nurse using the correct liftingtechniques, and not dragging the patient, the risk of the patient sustainingfurther injury, such as pressure areas, is reduced. By communicating withthe client, the nurse is also made aware of any problems the client has withany aspect of the lift. Regular maintenance of equipment is essential so that the equipment does notbreakdown frequently. Hooks, straps and slings need to be constantlychecked to ensure optimum working order, as well as ensuring client safety. Staff need to be educated on the use of the lifters and regular testingwould ensure that the staff are confident and competent in their use. Thismay lead to a decrease in the amount of mismatched clients and nurses interms of weight, as if staff are more confident of using the lifters theremay not be as much manual lifting necessary. Education about manual handling is also vital to ensure correct liftingtechniques are used. Constant re-evaluation of the staff’s abilities andmethods would ensure safety for both parties involved. This would makestaff aware that the least amount of strain placed on the muscles and jointsas possible is beneficial to them. The re-evaluation is also important in the fact that it allows the healthcare worker to be constantly up to date on any new procedures which may bedeveloped. {PAGE BREAK}REFERENCESKozier, B., Erb, G., Blais, K., Wilkinson, J.M. 1995, {italics on}Fundamentals of Nursing {italics off}, 5th Edition, Addison WesleyPublishing Company Inc., United States of America. Love, C. 1995, ‘Managing manual handling in clinical situations’, {italicson} Nursing Times {italics off}, vol. 91, no. 26, pp. 38-39. Scott, A. 1995, ‘Improving patient moving and handling skills’, {italics on}Professional Nurse {italics off}, vol. 11, no. 2, pp. 105-110. Seymour, J. 1995, ‘Handling Aids – Lifting and moving patients’, {italicson} Nursing Times {italics off}, vol. 91, no. 27, pp. 48-50.