Nursing: Lifting, Transferring And Positioning Of Patients Essay, Research Paper

Nursing: Lifting, Transferring and Positioning of Patients

Lab Report

Student No. { xxxxxxxxx }

Group No. { ten }

Marker & # 8217 ; s Name: { xxxxx xxxxxxxx }

Abstraction

Raising, reassigning and placement of patients is often undertaken by

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 in legion ways.

Equally good as the nurse physically raising or traveling patients, a figure of devices

are besides available to help in the transportation of patients. These scope from

straps that are attached to or placed under the patients, to mechanical hoists

and lifters. Any aid the nurse has is good for both the patient

and the wellness attention worker, as patient & # 8217 ; s weights are by and large heavier than the

nurses physical capablenesss. This, combined with wrong raising techniques,

can ensue in musculus strain, or more earnestly, spinal hurt for the nurse, and

uncomfortableness, musculus strain or farther hurt for the patient.

Introduction

When lifting, reassigning or positioning patients, the most of import

consideration is safety. Any of these processs need to be undertaken with it

in head. This safety is inclusive of both the patient and the wellness attention

worker. Communication is an of import portion of the raising procedure as the nurse

should arouse information from the client to happen out how and when they prefer

to be moved. This allows the patient to be involved in the determination devising

procedure and be to the full cognizant of what is happening. By pass oning with the

client, the nurse is besides cognizant of whether or non the patient is sing

any uncomfortableness during or after the lift.

The actions of lifting, reassigning or positioning demand to be completed for

legion grounds, including alleviation of force per unit area points. Due to the patient being

in one place continuously, they are prone to the development of force per unit area

countries. In footings of patient demands, being in the same place invariably is

physically uncomfortable. However, mentally, a alteration in the immediate

milieus is besides good for the patient. It is besides necessary for the

patient to be moved for completion of their ego attention needs. This includes

their hygiene demands, which include, bathing or lavishing, riddance, hair,

unwritten and nail attention.

Method

When lifting, reassigning or positioning patients manually, safety is the most

of import factor. This safety is for the nurse themselves every bit good as for the

patient. One facet of safety is for the nurse to use & # 8220 ; good organic structure mechanics & # 8221 ;

( Kozier et al 1995, p.879 ) . This refers to the nurse holding balance, which can

be achieved with the pess being dispersed about shoulder 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 ) balance is besides achieved by right organic structure

alliance and good position. The usage of right organic structure alignment reduces the

strain on musculuss and articulations, and makes raising the clients much easier.

When raising clients, the first thing the nurse should make is explicate to the

patient what they are making and inquire the patient if there is any peculiar manner

they would prefer to be moved. This allows the patient to hold some sentiment

about what is being done to them.

The following thing that should be done when traveling a patient is a everyday appraisal.

The nurse may measure the state of affairs by foremost detecting the patient and reading

the nursing attention program. The nurse demands to be cognizant of the patients capablenesss

to see how much they can make or if they can help in any manner. Another of import

portion of appraisal is detecting the environing environment, to be certain there is

no obstructors or other jeopardies which may be deleterious to the nurse or patient

before, during or after the move.

The following stage is that of be aftering the move. The nurse decides how the patient

will be moved from their current place to where they are traveling. This may

affect the nurse acquiring aid for the lift, either from other wellness attention

workers or by mechanical devices, such as a lifter or hoist. When traveling or

raising the client, wherever possible the nurse should hold aid. This

aid is necessary for both nurse and client safety. This is supported by

Kozier ( 1995 p.910 ) , who says, wherever possible,

& # 8220 ; 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 can be

used. When traveling a client up in bed, the client should be encouraged to assist

if possible. The nurse can inquire the patient to flex their articulatio genuss, so that when

the nurse is ready, the patient can help by forcing backwards when the nurse

says. Two nurses stand on opposite sides of the bed confronting each other. With

articulatio genuss set and legs shoulder width apart, the nurses lock forearms underneath

the patient & # 8217 ; s thighs and shoulders. The nurses, on the count 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 the patient is traveling to be moved.

When traveling a client from a sidelong lying place to sitting at the side of the

bed, the first thing that the nurse should make after appraisal, is to acquire the

patient in a side lying place. This is done by the nurse puting one manus on

the client & # 8217 ; s hips and one manus on the client & # 8217 ; s shoulder. The nurse so

transportations their weight onto the back pes while at the same clip turn overing the

client towards them. The following measure is the nurse topographic points one arm underneath the

patient & # 8217 ; s shoulders and one arm underneath the articulatio genuss. The nurse so turns on

the balls of the pess while at the same clip drawing the client & # 8217 ; s legs down on

the floor.

The following move is reassigning a client from the bed to a chair. Once the client

is sitting on the border of the bed, the nurse can easy travel the patient to a

chair. This process hence follows on from the process of 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 h

ave the wheelchair ready

and analogue to the bed. The nurse must do certain the client & # 8217 ; s pess are placed

level on the floor with one pes somewhat in forepart of the other. The nurse so

topographic points the belt around the client & # 8217 ; s waist. The nurse bases confronting the client

with their weaponries around the client & # 8217 ; s waist, keeping onto the belt. The nurse

asks the patient to help by reassigning the weight onto the front pes on the

count of three, while at the same clip, the nurse transportations their weight onto

the back pes, raising the client up to a standing place. The nurse supports

the client until they are balanced when standing. The nurse and client, when

ready, pivot in the way of the chair. The client so holds the weaponries of

the chair as a agency of support and to help when take downing into the chair. The

nurse so lowers the client into the chair, flexing at the articulatio genuss. The transportation

belt is so removed when the nurse has assessed that the client is comfy

and secure in the chair. The nurse should besides guarantee the client has suffered

no ill-effects as a consequence of the move.

When the transportation belt is non available, Kozier ( 1995 p.925 ) , recommends that

the nurse puts both custodies at the sides of the patient & # 8217 ; s chest and go on the

process in the same manner.

When reassigning the patient from the chair to the bed, the same process is

implemented but in contrary. However, the transportation is started, the nurse should

guarantee that the bed is clean and dry. The client is so moved from the chair

to the bed and so assisted to a lying down place.

Manually raising patients is effectual, nevertheless, when able, the nurse should

lift or transportation with a mechanical lifter. These are particularly effectual in

cut downing the hazard of hurt. This is supported by Seymour ( 1995 p.48 ) who says

that,

& # 8220 ; more nurses are get downing to gain the equipment & # 8217 ; s potency for protecting

both client and carer from injury. & # 8221 ;

When utilizing these devices, the nurse should state the patient what is being done

and how it is being done. Mechanical lifters either have two slings, one sling

for underneath the shoulders and one for underneath the thighs or natess.

Other lifters have an all in one sling which extends from the client & # 8217 ; s upper

back to lower thighs. The lifters well cut down the strain on the nurse

and the patient and are able to be used for all transportations. The nurse topographic points the

catapulting underneath the patient and attaches the slings to the lifter with maulerss,

and the nurse so controls the lifter for the coveted action.

When utilizing a mechanical lifter, some jobs which may originate include the lifter

being broken or unavailable. The nurse should hence be cognizant of how to

right manually raise the client in the event of this occurring. Another

job with mechanical lifters, harmonizing to Scott, ( 1995 p.106 ) was that

mechanical devices were,

& # 8220 ; frequently left because staff did non experience confident plenty to utilize them. & # 8221 ;

This highlights the fact that all staff need to be taught the right manner that

the lifters are used.

The job with raising patients physically, is that nurses are frequently required

to raise tonss greater than they are physically able. This is due to,

& # 8220 ; the likely mismatch between the size of a patient to be lifted and the physical

capablenesss of the nurses on duty. & # 8221 ; ( Love 1995, p.38 ) .

This can take to possible hurt for nurse and client.

Another job with raising patients manually, is that the correct lifting

process may non be carried out. This can take to patient uncomfortableness, as good

as long term back jobs for the carer involved. One job which may besides

arise from wrong raising techniques is the development of force per unit area countries,

due to the patient being dragged and non lifted across the sheets. This

clash can take to the patient developing reddened tegument which may take to clamber

dislocation.

Discussion

By the wellness attention worker implementing the right lifting techniques, the nurse

and the patient & # 8217 ; s safety is non compromised in any manner. Nurses should be

invariably cognizant of any new methods of raising or reassigning which arise, so

they are able to maximize the degree of safety for themselves every bit good as for the

patients. By the nurse utilizing the right lifting techniques, and non dragging

the patient, the hazard of the patient prolonging farther hurt, such as force per unit area

countries, is reduced. By pass oning with the client, the nurse is besides made

aware of any jobs the client has with any facet of the lift.

Regular care of equipment is indispensable so that the equipment does non

breakdown often. Hooks, straps and slings need to be invariably checked to

guarantee optimal working order, every bit good as guaranting client safety.

Staff need to be educated on the usage of the lifters and regular testing would

guarantee that the staff are confident and competent in their usage. This may take

to a lessening in the sum of mismatched clients and nurses in footings of weight,

as if staff are more confident of utilizing the lifters at that place may non be every bit much

manual lifting necessary.

Education about manual handling is besides critical to guarantee right lifting

techniques are used. Changeless re-evaluation of the staff & # 8217 ; s abilities and

methods would guarantee safety for both parties involved. This would do staff

aware that the least sum of strain placed on the musculuss and articulations as

possible is good to them.

The re-evaluation is besides of import in the fact that it allows the wellness attention

worker to be invariably up to day of the month on any new processs which may be developed.

Mentions

Kozier, B. , Erb, G. , Blais, K. , Wilkinson, J.M. 1995, { italics on } Fundamentalss

of Nursing { italics off } , 5th Edition, Addison Wesley Publishing Company Inc. ,

United States of America.

Love, C. 1995, & # 8216 ; Pull offing manual handling in clinical state of affairss & # 8217 ; , { italics on }

Nursing Times { italics off } , vol. 91, no. 26, pp. 38-39.

Scott, A. 1995, & # 8216 ; Bettering patient traveling and managing accomplishments & # 8217 ; , { italics on }

Professional Nurse { italics off } , vol. 11, no. 2, pp. 105-110.

Seymour, J. 1995, & # 8216 ; Handling Aids & # 8211 ; Lifting and traveling patients & # 8217 ; , { italics on }

Nursing Times { italics off } , vol. 91, no. 27, pp. 48-50.