Week 2 Nursing

Question 1

MANUAL HANDLING COVERS A WIDE RANGE OF ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING:

Answer 1

• Lifting
• Pushing
• Pulling
• Holding
• Carrying
• Restraining
• Maintaining awkward postures

Question 2

WE FOCUS ON SAFE MANUAL HANDLING AND NOT SAFE LIFTING

Answer 2

• Previously, there has been a focus on ‘back care’ programs to control the risks associated with manual handling activities
• Unfortunately, this approach to ‘safe lifting’ did not reduce injuries associated with manual handling and nurses and midwives continued to be injured
• The O’Shea No Lift system was developed in 1995 to combat the unacceptably high injury rates among nurses and midwives
• Many variations on this system exist now, the principles remain the same and are focused on reducing manual handling activities wherever possible
• Nurses and midwifes carry around 1.8 tons per shift

Question 3

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY ACT (2004) & REGULATIONS (2017)

Answer 3

Duties of Employers (Section 21)
An employer, so far as is reasonably practicable:
* Provide and maintain for employees of the employer, a working environment that is safe and without risks to health

Duties of Employees (Section 25)
While at work, an employee must:
* Take reasonable care for his or her (sic) own health and safety
* Take reasonable care of the health and safety of others who may be affected by the employee’s acts or omissions at a
workplace
* Cooperate with their employer with respect to any action taken by the employer to comply with a requirement imposed
by the OHS Act

Question 4

Patients are assessed as:

Answer 4

• Independent,
• Requires Supervision,
• Able to Assist,
• Not Able to Assist.

Question 5

HOW DO YOU IDENTIFY IF SOMEONE IS ‘INDEPENDENT’ WITH MANUAL HANDLING

Answer 5

ON Bed Tasks
* Must be able to cooperate and comprehend instructions
* Must be able to move own body weight in bed (with or without the use of assistive devices)
* If the patient does not meet BOTH criteria, patient is classified as not able to assist and requires a minimum of 2 people and appropriate equipment to complete manual handling task

OFF Bed Tasks
* Must be able to cooperate and comprehend instructions
* Must be able to stand unsupported (by nursing or midwifery staff) with or without aids
* Must be able to maintain balance with or without aids
* No recent history of unexpected falls in hospital or the community
* If the patient does not meet ALL criteria patient is classified as not able to assist and requires a minimum of 2 people and appropriate equipment

Question 6

SLIDE SHEETS

Answer 6

• Assists with moving a patient up or down the bed
• Requires a minimum of two nurses or midwives
• Always use two slide sheets if the patient is unable to assist

Question 7

TRANSFER HOIST

Answer 7

• Assists with transferring a patient from one location to another
• Requires a minimum of two nurses or midwives to complete the transfer
• Consideration needs to be given to potential fractures before transfer
• Ensure clear patient education prior to transfer as it can be frightening

Question 8

HOVERMATT® AND HOVERJACK®

Answer 8

• Assists with transferring a patient between beds (HoverMatt®) or raising a patient from the floor following a fall (HoverJack®)
• Requires a minimum of two nurses or midwives to complete the transfer

Question 9

STANDING LIFTER

Answer 9

• Assists with transferring a patient from a bed to a chair or chair
• Patient must be wearing adequate footwear (and have feet!)
• Patient must be able to follow instructions
• Patient must be able to bear some weight through their legs/feet
• Do not use if the patient is tired or fatigued
• Can be operated by one nurse or midwife

Question 10

OVERHEAD HOIST

Answer 10

• Patient must be able to follow instructions
• Prepare everything needed to reduce ‘hang time’ for the patient
• Ensure the right sling is being used for the hoist
• Requires a minimum of two nurses or midwives

Question 11

BED MECHANICS AND FUNCTIONS

Answer 11

• Always use the bed mechanics to help with manual handling tasks
• Ensure the correct mattress is being used on the bed so it moves properly
• Check that the patient fits in the bed and has enough room to move

Question 12

BARIATRIC MANUAL HANDLING

Answer 12

Medical management of the morbidly obese:
* An internationally accepted term applied to patients whose weight far exceeds recommended guidelines and where body size restricts their mobility, health and access to healthcare services
* Their weight increases their morbidity, mortality and creates numerous care challenges for health care providers