Proper body mechanics are vital in protecting the healthcare professional from injuring himself or herself. 8 out of 10 nurses work through musculoskeletal pain associated with their job. Improper body mechanics can lead to serious injuries when performed improperly and repeatedly throughout the day.
Proper body mechanics are vital in protecting the healthcare professional from injuring himself or herself. 8 out of 10 nurses work through musculoskeletal pain associated with their job. Improper body mechanics can lead to serious injuries when performed improperly and repeatedly throughout the day.
Proper body mechanics are vital in protecting the healthcare professional from injuring himself or herself. 8 out of 10 nurses work through musculoskeletal pain associated with their job. Improper body mechanics can lead to serious injuries when performed improperly and repeatedly throughout the day.
Impact of Body Mechanics throughout Movement and Transfer of Patients
Leigh Anne Koonmen Ferris State University
Impact of Body Mechanics
2 Impact of Body Mechanics throughout Movement and Transfer of Patients Evidence Based Practice is a problem-solving approach to making clinical decisions using the best evidence available...[evidence based practice] blends both the science and the art o nursing so that the best patient outcomes are achieved (Taylor et al., 2011, p. 78). Such practices examine the best possible practices for treatments and procedures used in the hospitals and range from hand washing to proper body mechanics. The benefits of evidence based practice are extensive and are the primary source of promoting standards of care that ensure safety of both patients and healthcare providers alike. One topic covered under the umbrella of evidence based practice is that of proper body mechanics during the transfer of patients from one location (e.g., bed) to another location (e.g., chair) or while performing certain procedures at a patients bedside (e.g., bed bath). The maintenance of proper body mechanics during procedures is vital in protecting the healthcare professional from injuring his or herself as well as ensuring the safety of the patient (Cornish and Jones, 2011). Effects of Improper Body Mechanics in Nursing Practice In 2011 the American Nurses Association found that 8 out of 10 nurses work through musculoskeletal pain associated with their job; of these injured nurses, 13% were injured more than three times within a year while at work (ANA, 2012). The use of improper body mechanics while assisting patients can lead to serious musculoskeletal harm. Much of the tasks performed by nurses are repetitive movements that require large amounts of physical exertion; even those tasks that do not require much physical exertion when performed once can lead to serious harm when performed improperly and repeatedly throughout the day. According to Carta et al. (2010) systematic health surveillance showed that [lower back pain] was a very common reason for nursing staff being unfit to carry out patient handlingaffecting about 10% of the workforce (p. 577).
Impact of Body Mechanics
3 In addition to preventing many nurses from performing assistive patient care requirements, injuries due to improper body mechanics can be costly to the health care facility. According to the CDC, Direct and indirect costs associated with back injuries in the healthcare industry are estimated to be $20 billion annually (CDC, 2008, p.1). Effects of Improper Body Mechanics on the Nurse Much of a nurses responsibilities are focused on the movement of patients, whether it is from a bed to a wheelchair, assistance with ambulation, or repositioning. All of this patient assistance can put strain on the musculoskeletal system of the nurse potentially leading to a serious workplace injury. Nurses rank fifth in professions that have the highest rates of musculoskeletal injuries, which are caused by the use of improper body mechanics, long hours, and frequent strenuous activities (Mayeda-Letourneau, 2014). Compounding the physical strain from assisting patients, nurses are often put in awkward positions while aiding their patients due to cramped hospital rooms and bathrooms, the presence of other staff or family in the room, and the presence of poorly placed objects. Additionally, most nurses spend long hours on their feet, which when paired with cramped spaces, heavy lifting, poor body mechanics, such as twisting and bending the back, the nurse is regularly at risk or serious musculoskeletal injury. Effects of Improper Body Mechanics on Patients The use of improper body mechanics by nursing staff effects not only their health, but can also put their patient at risk for injury. Injury to a nurse during transfer of a patient can increase the chances of that patient experiencing a fall without the nurse there for support. A nurse who has been injured from a previous incident will similarly be unable to perform the full function of assisting the patient, which can also put the patient in serious danger for injury. Improper Detail in Incident Reports Proper body mechanics are an extremely important part of moving and transferring patients to ensure both nurse and patient safety, but sometimes things go awry and injuries occur, and in this event it is essential for the nurse to fill out a detailed incident report. A study
Impact of Body Mechanics
4 conducted by Cornish and Jones (2012) found a high rate of nurses who failed to fill out incident reports with the baseline information necessary for appropriate overview of a situation in which a patient was injured. Many of the nurses failed to explain the extent of injuries or how these injuries were treated. Another important factor left out of almost all of the incident reports, 476 out of 500 in fact, failed to acknowledge ways in which the nurse would avoid the incident from occurring again in the futurea necessary aspect of all incident reports. Additionally, the authors found that several of the nurses indicated the patients were to blame for the incident and indicated future prevention responsibilities geared more towards the patient than the nurse. Benefits of Proper Body Mechanics The utilization of standards of proper body mechanics is mutually beneficial to the nurse, the patient, and the health care setting. The continuous and repetitive work of nurses in the transfer, repositioning, and movement of patients, which is primarily manual work, increases incidences of nurse injury, patient injury, and health care costs. Utilization of proper body mechanics during these procedures, as well as implementation of mechanical lifts, such as a ceiling lit, bariatric lift, and suspension devices, can decrease incidences of injury. According to Virginia Nurses Today (2010), healthcare workers are three times more likely to be injured on the job than any other profession, primarily due to procedures that require assistance of a patient in transferring or moving. These injuries can cost the hospital over $20 million dollars annually. Implementing standards of safe patient handling and use of transfer devices can be extremely cost effective when associated with actors such as lost work days, modified duty, worker retraining, employee turnover, and even bed sores are factored in, the hospital recoups its investment in less than two years (Virginia Nurses Today, 2010, p. 13) Alternatives to Manual Patient Assistance As stated by Wyk, Andrews, and Weir (2009), Manual patient transfers, which include lifting, relocating, and lowering a patient, impose a tremendous physical burden on nurses, as the force required to complete the task often exceeds the physical capabilities of the nurses (p. 362).
Impact of Body Mechanics
5 Much of the assistive work performed by nurses is done manually and independently. The use of an additional person when performing assistive tasks can help reduce strain on the musculoskeletal system during manual transfer or movement procedures, as the weight distribution each person lifts is decreased as more staff aid in the movement. However, the use of additional staff is not always practical, especially in a field that regularly experiences staff shortages in the workplace. Thus, the use of mechanical devices is essential in preventing injuries to the musculoskeletal systems of nurses who are required to perform patient assistance procedures independently. These mechanical devices can be used to lift patients from bed and move them directly to a wheelchair or chair and even move patients from one room to another. Conclusion Nurse injuries due to the movement, transferring, and repositioning of patients is becoming increasingly prevalent in the healthcare industry. These injuries can lead to further patient injuries and high costs for the healthcare facility. Alternative methods have been identified to assist nurses in the movement, transfer, and repositioning of patients, including use of mechanical transfer devices as well as training courses for proper body mechanics. Through the utilization of evidence based practice regarding proper body mechanics during transfer methods decreases the incidence of musculoskeletal injuries in nurses as well as decreases costs for the healthcare facility.