Safe Patient Handling & No Lift Policy: Reducing The Incidence Of Work-Related Injuries Among Nursing Staff

<p><strong>Background:</strong> Patient handling is a major risk factor for work-related injuries among nurses. Inadequate and inappropriate safe patient handling practices contribute to increased work-related injuries, lost/restricted work days, and hospital costs.</p> <p><strong>Purpose: </strong>The focus of this study was to increase the use of mechanical lift equipment and Lift Team to reduce the incidence of work-related injuries among nursing staff involved in patient handling activities on the Medical-Cardiac IICU.</p> <p><strong>Methodology: </strong>The theoretical framework employed for this project was Lippitt’s change theory. Pre-and post-survey self-report evaluations were conducted prior to and following the implementation of the Bedside Mobility Assessment Tool (BMAT) and unit specific Equipment Options Tool to measure the effectiveness of the intervention.</p> <p><strong>Results: </strong>A comparison of the pre- and post- survey RN results indicated that the greatest percent change (>10%) increase included: understanding that injuries can be avoided with proper lifting and transferring of patients (18.3%), utilization of patient lifting and transferring devices whenever possible (14.6%), understanding how to select appropriate lifting equipment based on patient assessment (18.3%), understanding how to utilize patient lifting and transferring devices (11.9%), and belief that coordinating with the Lift Team to schedule timelines for Safe Patient Lifts would be helpful for staff (40.5%).</p> <p><strong>Conclusion:</strong> The BMAT and unit specific Equipment Options Tool increased the use of mechanical lift equipment among nursing staff, and thus decreased the risk of work-related injuries. Future evaluation will indicate an increased utilization of lift equipment and team, and a sustained decrease in reported injuries, number of lost/restricted work days, and hospital costs related to patient handling activities.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

Level thesis:degree_level

Project/Capstone - Global access

Year dc:date.available

2014

Author dc:creator

• Scanlon, Marissa N

Contributors dc:contributor

• Danijela Pavlic
• Joan Mersch

• safe patient handling
• no lift policy
• Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL)
• lift equipment
• work-related injuries
• lift team
• Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment
• Equipment and Supplies

Repository record dc:identifier

https://repository.usfca.edu/capstone/78

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:repository.usfca.edu:capstone-1085