Description/Overview: This symposium will cover efforts in the United States related to Safe Patient Handling and Movement. Nursing is a high risk occupation for musculoskeletal injury. Such risk is associated with providing care and treatment to dependent individuals. Other occupations have addressed their workersˇ¦ safety, such as manufacturing and transportation, by long ago providing guidelines and resources to prevent and minimize the impact of work related injury. Healthcare, however, was slower to address the risks associated with musculoskeletal injury. Some countries and geographic regions who have earlier begun initiatives to address nursing and healthcare worker injury, include England/United Kingdom, Scandinavia (Sweden, Denmark, Norway), and Canada. „« Session One will provide historical background, catalysts for change and the U.S. approaches taken to address challenges. Current evidence and evaluation of program efforts will be described „« Session Two covers the efforts to change and improve U.S. nursing schoolsˇ¦ curriculum related to safe patient handling so that student nurses, new clinicians and their professors establish improved expectations of care delivery methods. „« Session Three will describe recommended solutions, decision making guidelines and practices for safe patient handing across various care settings

Learner Objective #1: Identify two strategies the U.S. has taken to address safe patient handling and movement.

Learner Objective #2: Discuss the required factors in a successful safe patient handling program.