Chapter 3: Safer Patient Handling, Positioning, Transfers and Ambulation
3.3 Risk Assessment for Safer Patient Handling
Critical Thinking Exercises: Questions, Answers, and Sources / References
Critical thinking questions are in bold type, and the answers are italicized. Additional sources or references are provided below.
- Name five things the healthcare worker should assess about themselves when considering their own ability to perform a patient-handling procedure?
- Have I had the necessary training?
- Is my footwear appropriate?
- Will I be able to maintain a neutral spine—no twisting or side bending—and use proper body mechanics?
- If I am in a team, who will be designated as the leader?
- Can I use weight shift techniques?
- Can I do no actual lifting?
Sources:
Interior Health. (2012). Point-of-care risk assessment. https://www.interiorhealth.ca/sites/Partners/WHSresources/Documents/Point%20of%20Care%20Risk%20Assessment%20Tool.pdf
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). (2010). Safe patient handling training for schools of nursing. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2009-127/pdfs/2009-127.pdf
Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA). (2010). Workplace health – Safe patient handling [Online courses]. http://learn.phsa.ca/phsa/patienthandling/
WorkSafeBC. (2010). Patient handling. https://www.worksafebc.com/en/health-safety/industries/health-care-social-services/topics/patient-handling
2. Vision and hearing impairments, as well as language barriers, are risk factors when performing patient-handling procedures. What additional patient risk factors should be considered?
The patient’s cognitive ability to cooperate and follow instructions, patient muscle strength, ability to weight bear, activity restrictions (e.g., non weight bearing orders).
Sources:
Interior Health. (2013). Manual transfer: One person assist with help. https://www.interiorhealth.ca/sites/Partners/WHSresources/Documents/Manual%20Transfers%20-%20One%20Person%20Assist%20with%20Help%20SWP.pdf
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). (2010). Safe patient handling training for schools of nursing. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2009-127/pdfs/2009-127.pdf
Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA). (2010). Workplace health – Safe patient handling [Online courses]. http://learn.phsa.ca/phsa/patienthandling/
WorkSafeBC. (2010). Patient handling. https://www.worksafebc.com/en/health-safety/industries/health-care-social-services/topics/patient-handling
3. A patient is assessed as needing a one-person pivot transfer. As the healthcare provider begins the transfer, the patient suddenly becomes uncooperative. What should the healthcare provider do next?
Remain calm. Lower the patient back to the surface they have come from. Assess the situation. Ensure patient safety. Consider interdisciplinary reassessment. Document on the care plan.
