Question

Helen Jillian is a 72-year-old woman with hypertension, high cholesterol levels, and chest pain. She is 61 inches tall and weighs 290 pounds. Ms. Jillian is admitted to the hospital for another episode of chest pain. You are assigned to care for her. Her physician has ordered her to be out of bed in the chair at least twice daily and to ambulate every day. How will you safely move this patient from bed to chair and assist her with ambulation? Work through that decision by answering the following questions.

1. What aspects of this situation require the most careful attention? (What are the risks? What could go wrong?)
2. What steps can you take to prevent those difficulties?

Answer 1

The best way to move a morbid obese patient from bed to chair is by using the bariatric equipment, floor lift, bariatric bed come chair,ceiling lift slings to transfer from bed to chair. Ensure there is adequate manpower or support persons around while transferring. Adequate place around the patient during the transfer.

The most important aspects to be kept in attention in these situations are the condition of the equipment for its durability. All the required equipment like bariatric chair to be provided behind the patient when mobilized as a support. Support patient from the weaker side and a relative or support personnel can stand on the other side during walk.Remove all the obstacles and ensure a clear pathway to walk because a cluttered area can lead to fall.

Some of the steps to prevent difficulty are

• Educating all staffs
• Fall prevention protocol and guidelines following
• Adequate support and space
• Monitoring vital signs because patient may develop breathlessness during ambulation.