Handle with Care: The Right Way to Lift, Transfer, and Protect Patients (and Yourself!)
Handle with care, because lifting patients isn’t just about strength, it’s about strategy.
Moving patients might seem routine, but one wrong move can land you in a world of pain. Healthcare workers are at high risk for musculoskeletal injuries, and bad lifting techniques don’t just hurt you, they can hurt your patients too.
Every patient transfer comes with risks, but smart techniques can keep you safe.
Why patient handling is a high-stakes task
Muscle strains, back injuries, and sprains are all too common in healthcare. With an aging population and more bariatric patients, the physical demands on caregivers continue to rise.
High-risk scenarios to watch for
Some patient transfers push your body past its limits. Beware of situations that involve:
- Lifting patients who can’t support themselves.
- Twisting while moving a patient from bed to wheelchair.
- Handling patients over 35 pounds without mechanical assistance.
Pro Tip: If you have to strain, it’s time to use equipment or call for help.
Forget brute force, technique is everything when moving patients.
The golden rules of manual transfers
When mechanical lifts aren’t an option, these principles can help prevent injuries:
- Keep your feet shoulder-width apart for stability.
- Adjust bed height to hip level before lifting.
- Keep the patient close to your body to reduce strain.
- Avoid twisting, always move your entire body with the patient.
Busting myths about patient lifting
Myth: “Good body mechanics will protect me.”
Reality: Body mechanics help, but they’re not enough. Mechanical lifting devices are the real injury-prevention game-changer.
Myth: “Lift equipment takes too long.”
Reality: A trained team can set up and use a lift in under five minutes. That’s less time than it takes to fill out an injury report.
Myth: “We can’t afford lift equipment.”
Reality: The cost of one serious back injury far outweighs the price of safe patient-handling equipment.
A successful Safe Patient Handling (SPH) program doesn’t happen by accident.
Step 1: Identify the risks
Look at injury reports, patient weights, and job tasks to pinpoint high-risk areas. Consider:
- Departments with the highest injury rates.
- Tasks that require frequent or heavy lifting.
- Existing equipment and what’s missing.
Step 2: Get the right tools
The right equipment makes a world of difference. Must-haves include:
- Slide sheets and friction-reducing devices.
- Sit-to-stand lifts for mobile patients.
- Full-body slings for non-weight-bearing patients.
Step 3: Train and implement
Even the best equipment is useless without proper training. Make sure your team knows:
- When to use lifting devices instead of manual transfers.
- How to operate equipment safely.
- Why SPH programs protect both workers and patients.
Pro Tip: Track injury rates and equipment used to measure success and tweak your SPH program as needed.
Smart transfers start with understanding movement algorithms.
What are patient movement algorithms?
These step-by-step guides help caregivers decide the safest way to transfer a patient. Key considerations include:
- Can the patient bear weight?
- Are they cooperative?
- How much help do they need?
How to handle common transfers
- Bed to chair: If the patient can assist, use a transfer belt. Otherwise, a full-body lift may be needed.
- Bed to stretcher: Slide boards or air-assisted devices reduce strain and improve patient comfort.
- Repositioning in bed: Use a two-person assist or mechanical aid for heavier patients.
Pro Tip: If a patient weighs more than 35 pounds and can’t assist, always use a lift.
Expand your knowledge with our Patient Care Training: Techniques for Safe Patient Transfers course.
This course covers the basics of safe patient handling, but there’s more to learn. For an in-depth understanding of SPH programs and transfer techniques, enroll in our Patient Care Training: Techniques for Safe Patient Transfers.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – Musculoskeletal Disorders in Healthcare
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) – Safe Patient Handling Guidelines
- National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) – Safe Patient Handling and Mobility
