Question

If nurses and other professionals are patient advocates, what is their ethical duty toward safe patient handling and mobility (SPHM) practice? What are three examples of their duties.

Answer 1

Advocate : Advocate in health care is a person who actually communicates between the physicians and the patients.These advocates discuss about the health or safety practices according to their wish and communicates to physicians and help for the patients comfort and safety.

Safe Patient Handling and Mobility is the practice which keeps not only the patient safe but also the health care workers.As advocates their ethical responsibilities are handling the patient with care,Also using the equipment carefully over the patient to avoid injuries,Suggesting the tests needed as per the patient wish,Stopping certain procedures or treatments that patient is not willing to have etc.

Examples :

Scenario 1 : Patient had previously shared a room with the hepatitis B patient which is not a part of the tests.But the patient is willing to get this test performed.So as an advocate Nurse has to take this responsibility to share this with the health care provider and get ordered.

Scenario 2 : Patient is in emergency department need to shift to the floor through stretcher.So here as an Advocates all the personnel who are shifting from bed to stretcher should be very careful in handling the patient.

Scenario 3 : As a nurse advocate she had giving care to the patient who had viral skin infection.When she is reaching the next patient it is her responsibility to have an antiseptic cleaning before reaching the patient.

Above are certain scenarios or examples where and how advocates need to take care in SPHM.