Transferring Techniques

You will move patients often. A pt. may be moved or turned in bed or transferred from the bed to a chair, wheelchair or stretcher. During these and other activities, you must use your body correctly to protect yourself from injury and to protect patients from dangers of not being held or supported properly.

Principle of body mechanicsis using the body in an efficient and careful way. It involves using good posture, balance and the strongest and largest muscles to perform work.fatigue, muscle strain, and injury can result from improper use and positioning of the body during activity or rest. You must be concerned with the patient and your own body mechanics.

Rationale of using this skill:The movement maintains and restores muscle tone and also stimulates the respiratory and circulatory systems and improve elimination.

To improve their physical and psychological well-being.

Nursing Diagnosis1. Activity Intolerance> patients may be completely unable to move themselves or need assistance in doing so.

2. Impaired Physical Mobility> reasons include decreased strength, pain or discomfort, and neuromuscular or musculoskeletal impairment

Specific Transfer Techniques

1.) Raising the patients head and shoulders by locking arms with patient

a.) Raise the patients head and shoulders by locking arms with the patient. The patient near arm is under the nursing assistant near arm and behind the shoulder.

b.) The far arm of the nursing assistant is under the patients neck and shoulders. The near arm is under the patients near arm.

c.) The patient is raised to a semi -sitting position by locking arms.

2.) Moving the patient up in bed

a.) The patient grasps the headboard and flexes the knees to assist in being moved up. The nursing assistant has one arm under the patients shoulder and the other under the thighs.

b.) The patient is moved up in bed as the nursing assistants body weight is shifted from the rear leg to the front leg.

3.) Moving the patient up in bed with assistance

a.) A patient is moved up in bed with two nursing assistants. Each has one arm under the pts. Shoulder and the other under the buttocks. They have locked arms under the patient. The pts. knees are flexed.

b.) A pt. is moved up in bed as nursing assistants shift their weight from rear leg to the front leg.

4.)Moving the patient up in bed using a turning sheet

Turning sheeta flat sheet folded in half or draw sheet can be usedFor the turning sheet. It is placed under the patient and extends from the shoulders to above the knees.

Indications of turning sheetfor unconscious, paralyzed, recovering from spinal surgery, or who have spinal cord injuries.

The turning sheet is rolled up close to the patient

b.)Two nursing assistants move a pt. up in bed. The turning sheet is rolled close to the patient and held near the shoulders and buttocks.

5.)Moving the patient to the side of the bed

a.) Cross the pts. arm over the pts. chestb.)Place your arm under the patients neck and shoulders and grasp the far shoulder.c.) Place your other arm under the mid back.d.)Move the upper part of the pts. body toward you. Rock backward and shift your weight to your rear leg.

Place one arm under the pts. waist and one under the thighs

a.) Move the lower part of the pts. toward you by rocking backward.b.) Repeat the procedure for the legs and feet. Your arms should be under his or her thighs and calves.c.) Make sure the pt. is comfortable, in good body alignment, and positioned as directed by the nurse. Reposition the pillow under his or her head and shoulders.

6.)Turning the pt. toward you

a.) The pt. is turned toward the nursing assistant. The pts. arms and legs are crossed, and the nursing assistant has one hand on the pts. far shoulder and the other on the far hip.

b.) The pt. is positioned on the side in the middle of the bed. A pillow is in front of the bottom leg with the top leg on a pillow in a flexed position; a pillow is against the back; a small pillow supports the arm and hand; there is also a pillow under the head and shoulder.

7.)Turning the pt. away from you

Log rolling>turning the pt. as a unit, in alignment with one motion.

a.) The pt. is turned away from the nursing assistant. The pt.s arms and legs are crossed and the nursing assistant has one hand on the pt.s shoulder and the other on the pt.s buttocks.

8.)Sitting on the side of the bed

a.) A pt. is prepared to sit on the side of the bed. The nursing assistant grasps the far shoulder and the far knee.b.) The pt. is upright with the legs over the edge of the mattress.

9.)Applying a transfer (gait) belt

1.) Assist the pt. to a sitting position.2.) Apply the belt around the pts. waist over clothing. Do not apply it over bare skin.3.) Tighten the belt so that it is snug. It should not be so tight that it causes discomfort or impairs breathing.4.) Make sure that a womans breast are not caught under the belt.

10.)Transferring pt. to a chair or wheel chair

1.) The chair is positioned next to and even with the headboard.

2.) Prevent the pt. from sliding or falling by blocking the pts. knees and feet with your own knees and feet.

3.) The pt. is pulled up to a standing position and supported by holding the transfer belt and blocking the pts. knees and feet.

4.) A pt. being prepared to stand. The hands are placed under the pts. arms and around to the shoulder blades

5.) The pt. is supported as she grasps the far arms of the chair.

6.) The pt. holds the arms rests , leans forward and bends the elbows and knees while being lowered into the chair.

7.) Grasps the pts. forearms by putting your arms under the pts. arms or the thighs and calves are held to support the lower extremities during a transfer.

8. ) The pt. is supported while being lowered into the chair.

Using mechanical lifts

11.)Moving a pt. onto a stretcher with a draw sheet

Thank you for listening!!!God bless your heart

Teach me to trust in you with all of my heart,To lean not on my own understanding,Coz I just forget, you wont give me what I cant bear,Take me out of the dark my LordCoz I just want to be my LordCoz I just want to be there My Lord!!!!

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