Keeping our Nursing Staff Safe: Best Practice in Safe Patient Handling and Movement Program

Hawkins, Roric P.

Wednesday, July 13, 2011: 2:25 PM

Roric P. Hawkins, BSN
Nurse Executive Office, Michael E. DeBakey Veteran Affairs Medical Center, Houston, TX
Rizalina M. Bonuel, MSN, RN, CCRN, CNS, APRN-BC
Education Service Line, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affair Medical Center, Texas, TX
Thelma G. Becknell, MSN, RN
Nursing Department, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affair Medical Center, Houston, TX
Lottie Lockett, MSN, RN, CNAA-BC
Clinical Practice Office, Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston, TX
Kelly Irving, MSN, RN, CWON
Clinical Practice office, Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston, TX

Learning Objective 1: 1. The learner will be able to describe the best practices for the Safe patient Handling and Movement program.

Learning Objective 2: 2. The learner will be able to identify at least two strategies related to program implementation.

In daily nursing activity, the most challenging efforts put forth by nursing staff have come in the form of manually lifting and moving patients. The injuries have occurred in the form of both lower and upper backs as well as neck and shoulders related to the consistencies involved in manually moving and lifting patients. These injuries sustained have ranged in the area from minor strains and pulls to severely consequential often resulting in career ending. Our organization developed a best practice Safe Patient Handling and Movement program to address workplace safety.

Several strategies were implemented to create a culture of safety. First, the organization hired a Safe Patient Handling and Movement coordinator who presents regularly in the new employee orientation. Safe patient handling equipment such as total assist lifts, moderate assist lifts, and lateral transfer devices are resources provided to the nursing staff. An Initial 8 hour training with continuing education credits was offered to the nursing staff. Two Unit Peer Leaders per unit were identified to participate in this required training. The training consisted of actual demonstration of skill competencies to handle and maneuver the equipment.

The program graduated 62 unit peer leaders from the inaugural program. The program will be offered biannually. A Back Injury Prevention committee was developed. Baseline back injuries prior to the program were 61 related to patient lifting and moving for fiscal year 2009. For fiscal year 2010, our current staff injury related to patient lifting and moving was decreased to 32 total staff injuries.

See more of: Innovative Models for Evidence-Based Care
See more of: Evidence-Based Practice Sessions: Oral Paper & Posters