Safe Patient HandlingWhat’s Your Safety Temperature?

• Understand the magnitude of patient handling injuries

• Learn what you can do to reduce your risk of injury

Objectives

Did you know…

• During an average 8 hour shift, nurses lift 1.8 tons.

• 12% of all nurses leave the profession annually due to back injuries.

• 52% of all nurses working complain of chronic back pain.

• Nursing is considered one of the highest risk occupations, 2nd only to truck drivers.

Rates of worker injuries by occupationAccording to the Bureau of Labor Statistics

13.5

8.88.1 7.9

4.0

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

Nursing Home Workers

Hospital Workers

Manufacturing Workers

Construction Workers

Miners

Decades of data have taught us that traditional methods of training on effective

lifting techniques, body mechanics and working in teams . . . .

IS NOT THE SOLE IS NOT THE SOLE SOLUTION !SOLUTION !

What can you do?

• Assess the patient’s abilities BEFORE moving them

• Assess attributes that might make the move more difficult

What can you do?

• Determine the best/safest way to move the patient

• Get assistance when you need it

Much like the flight attendant on an airplane that instructs passengers to place the oxygen mask on yourself first and then your child. . . .

You, as caregivers in healthcare, must take care of yourselves first in order to be able to take care of others.

“Your organization is perfectly designed to get the results it’s getting now.”

Dr. Stephen CoveyAuthor of The SevenHabits of Highly EffectivePeople

Safe Patient HandlingWhat’s Your Safety Temperature?