Body Mechanics (Utilization)

Guidelines:

• Workplace safety for perioperative staff
• High-risk tasks specific to perioperative nurses
  • Transferring patients on and off OR beds
  • Repositioning patient on the OR bed
  • Lifting and holding patients extremities
  • Standing for long periods
  • Holding retractors for long periods
  • Lifting and moving equipment
  • Sustaining awkward positions

Considerations:

• Culture of safety should incorporate principles of safe patient handling and movement
  • Safely moving, positioning, and prepping patients
  • Safely moving equipment
  • Principles of body mechanics/ergonomics
    • Straight back, bend knees, use large muscles, etc.
• Positioning is a collaborative effort among the entire surgical team
• Use equipment and assistive devices according to manufacturer’s IFU
• Utilize algorithms to assist with decision-making for safe patient handling and movement

Nurse’s role:

• Adopt and incorporate safe practices
• Be vigilant, pay attention, respond
• Ask for help
• Collaborate for patient and workplace safety
• Report near-misses and adverse events related to patient movement and handling

Pitfalls:

• At minimum, four providers are needed when the patient is unable to assist
• Avoid friction and shear forces when lifting, transferring, or repositioning a patient
• Safe patient handling and movement requires appropriate utilization of the nursing process

Examples:

• Examples of safe patient handling equipment:
  • Air-assisted transfer mattresses
  • Mechanical lifting equipment
  • Lateral transfer devices (rollers)

Linchpins (Key Points):

• Protect yourself
• Protect your patients
• Collaborate for a culture of safety