Notably for activities during basic care, nursing staff often have to lean forward, for example to be able to wash patients’ legs or feet. High weights are often moved and the body reacts to unfavorable working angles in the medium and long term with symptoms and injuries – a consequence of excessive and one-sided loads during lifting and repositioning.
However, the ergonomic optimization of important work steps and the use of aids can at least reduce the stress on the nursing staff’s side and make it more tolerable. This manual gives tips and instructions for the ergonomic execution of daily tasks in the care sector.
Especially obese residents have special care and therapy needs: Aids such as specials beds and wheelchairs have to be suitable for the weight and size of the resident, the basic care takes longer and some nursing tasks, for example repositioning, may require the assistance of an additional employee.
Here is the transfer described last week with slip sheets for bariatric residents:
Preparation of the resident
• The front leg is placed in the direction of the planned rotation to avoid pressure on the resident’s back
Repositioning the resident
• The movement sequences are the same as for the transfer with a sliding sheet above, with the only exception that it should be done by 2 nursing staffs, who execute the movement sequences simultaneously
• The nursing staffs’ body weight is simultaneously shifted backwards
As always, all the steps shown in a video:
