• E-mail
• Print
• RSS

Evidence supports new solutions for nursing’s old ergonomics problems

Staff Development Weekly: Insight on Evidence-Based Practice in Education, November 5, 2004

Want to receive articles like this one in your inbox? Subscribe to Staff Development Weekly: Insight on Evidence-Based Practice in Education!

Researchers suggest that current methods for reducing musculoskeletal injuries in nursing staff are based on common practice rather than scientific evidence, according to an article published in the American Nurses Association's September 2004 Online Journal of Issues in Nursing. The authors of "Evidence-based practices for safe patient handling and movement" call current ergonomic methods "ineffective" and assert that newer solutions will better relieve nursing staff from patient transferring/lifting-related injuries and pain. To tackle the issue, the article suggests breaking down ergonomics into the following three categories: engineering (i.e., work environment and equipment); administrative (i.e., policies and procedures); and behavioral controls (i.e., education and training). Review the following innovative suggestions to educate staff on safe patient handling in your organization:

• Engineering controls
  Equipment and devices - Utilize equipment and devices to keep staff's bodies safe from injury when lifting or transferring patients. Such equipment and devices include height-adjustable beds and mechanical lifts.

• Administrative controls
  Patient lift teams - Use patient lift or transfer teams when moving patients. Such teams involve a "buddy system" including two healthy staff members-who have passed a physical examination-to use special lifting techniques to avoid injury.

• Behavioral controls
  Peer leaders - Designate specially trained peer leaders to ensure proper performance of patient transfer and lifting techniques and to oversee nursing staff's competency of such techniques.

Want to receive articles like this one in your inbox? Subscribe to Staff Development Weekly: Insight on Evidence-Based Practice in Education!

• E-mail to a Colleague
• Print
• RSS
• Archive