In healthcare, all client-handling activities, such as positioning, transfers, and ambulation, are considered high risk for injury to clients and healthcare providers. This unit reviews the essential guidelines for safe transfer and moving techniques to minimize and eliminate injury in healthcare. When transfering clients, it is important to consider proper body mechanics (see Unit 3 Body Mechanics).
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this unit, the successful student will be able to:
- Discuss risk assessment and four areas of attention required when moving clients.
- Describe how different levels of assistance affect decisions about assisting with mobility and transfers.
- Describe various techniques for positioning a client in bed and types of positions.
- Describe the process of a one-person transfer assist from bed to a wheelchair including the use of any assistive device.
- Describe how to transfer a client from a stretcher to a bed using an assistive device.
- Discuss situations where mechanical assistive devices are necessary when moving clients.
- Discuss falls prevention strategies.
Terms to Know
A hydraulic lift, usually attached to a ceiling, used to move clients who cannot bear weight, who are unpredictable or unreliable, or who have a medical condition that does not allow them to stand or assist with moving.
Moving a client from one flat surface to another, such as from a bed to a stretcher.
Rubbing of two surfaces together, such as the skin rubbing against a sheet.
When skin sticks to a surface, such as a sheet, and the muscles underneath slide in the direction the body moves.
When the client lies on their stomach with the head turned to one side.
The client’s head of bed is placed at a 45-degree angle. Hips may or may not be flexed. Common position to provide client comfort and care.
The client’s head of bed is placed at a 30-degree angle. This position is used for clients who have cardiac or respiratory conditions, and for patients with a nasogastric tube.
In this position, the clients lays flat on their back. Additional supportive devices may be added for comfort.
Client lies between supine and prone with legs flexed in front of the client. Arms should be comfortably placed beside the client, not underneath.
A position that places the head of the bed lower than the feet. Used in situations such as hypotension and medical emergencies. Helps promote venous return to major organs such as the head and heart.
The client sits at the side of the bed with head resting on an over-bed table on top of several pillows. This position is used for clients with breathing difficulties.
The assessed and determined level of assistance a client requires based on the their ability to transfer, stand, and cooperate in care activities.
An object or piece of equipment designed to help a client with activities of daily living, such as a walker, cane, gait belt, or mechanical lift
the feeling that you, or the environment around you, is spinning or moving, making you feel dizzy.
or postural hypotension — is a low blood pressure that causes dizziness, lightheadedness, and even fainting when one goes from a lying or sitting position to a standing position.
Healthcare providers are not to manually try to lift a client as this may result in serious injury to the client and/or care provider
Moving or walking from one place to another.
