Teaching students safer methods of patient transfer

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Occupational Health
• Biomechanics

Background:

• Patient handling is a significant cause of back injuries in healthcare professionals.
• The traditional under-axilla grasp method for patient lifting applies excessive force to the lumbar-sacral spine.
• High injury rates associated with manual patient handling necessitate safer transfer techniques.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the risks associated with the under-axilla grasp patient transfer method.
• To advocate for the adoption of assistive devices in patient handling.
• To explore educational strategies for student nurses on using safe patient transfer devices.

Main Methods:

• Review of biomechanical forces exerted during patient lifting.
• Analysis of injury data related to different patient handling techniques.
• Discussion of curriculum integration for assistive device training in nursing education.

Main Results:

• The under-axilla grasp method exceeds safe force limits for the lumbar-sacral spine.
• Assistive devices have been shown to significantly decrease patient handling-related injuries.
• Educational interventions can effectively train student nurses in using safe transfer equipment.

Conclusions:

• The under-axilla grasp method poses a substantial risk of back injury.
• Implementing assistive devices is crucial for reducing workplace injuries in nursing.
• Training student nurses on safe, device-assisted patient transfers is essential for preventing future injuries.