Question

A. When working in the home care sector, the support worker might be responsible for lifting a client (manual lift) with the assistance of a family member. What should be considered prior to use the lift except which option?

B. List important considerations the Personal Support Worker must make prior to, during and after the transfer.

C. What is the safe way to transfer a person with a weak or affected side?

3. D. Review and list precautions and special considerations when preparing and performing to do a:
   1. One-person pivot (stepping) transfer-
   2. Two-person pivot (stepping) transfer-

Answer 1

A. While manually lifting the patient with the assistance of a family member, both the support worker and the family member need to follow th body mechnics. As the center of gravity changes here, there are chances of ligament injury, over strain etc for the support worker and family member. Check the ability of the family member to follow the instructions given. He/ she must be capable of lifting the patient.Firstly assess the risk for falling or any other accidents that may develop. Later give appropriate instructions to both the family member and patient.

B. Considerations before lifting

• Check for physicians order for lifting prior to lifting.
• Assess the ability of the patient to follow the instructions.
• Assess the risk factors of injury, fall etc
• Check for any tubes, cathethers, presence of ventillator tubings, their patency etc.
• Perform a hand hygiene
• Attach the tuvings, cannulas, catheters dafely so that they never dislodge.
• Explain the procedure to the patient well.
• Call for help, if they cant do alone.
• Maintain the airway, breathing and circulation of patients.
• Follow proper body mechanics.
• Lower the bed level and slowly lift the patient.
• Lower the side rails

Considerations after lifting

• Assess the airway, breathing and circulation
• Make sure that, the patient is comfort.
• Check the tubings, catheters etc for any dislodgement.
• Reconnect the dislodged catheters, tubes etc
• Keep the side rails up
• Document the findings with patients response

C. What is the safe way to transfer a person with a weak or affected side?

Inorder to transfer a person with a weak side, its better to use assistive devices like belt, chair etc for the easy transfer and lift. Provide appropriate informations for the client regarding, what they can do with lifting. Ask the patient to come to the edge of the bed, and lock a weelchair near by the patients bed side and lock it. Once when the patient move towards the edge of the bed, Support on the transfer belt, and holding the lift, the support worker can pivot theirur entire body as well as the client's. Later lower the client into the weelchair by bending at the patient knees and hips.Alwys make sure that, the nurse is having adequate control over the patients hip and shoulder.

D. Review and list precautions and special considerations when preparing and performing to do a: One-person pivot (stepping) transfer-

In one person pivot transfer only the support worker and the patient will be involved. So here, the patient also need to exert some pressure for moving along with the support worker, So provide appropriate informations and check his ability to follow the instructions given.This can be done with the help of asssitive devices like gait belt, weel chairs etc. Here the patient need to sit on the edge of the bed first. Later, the patient need to push himself on bed and raise his buttock off the bed. After that, he need to reach his arm for the locked wheelchair and  pivot around to sit on the chair.

• Risk of fall is very high.
• This cannot be done for very sick patients those who can not follow the instructions.
• Use a gait belt for movement
• Follow the principles of body mechanics
• Keep the bed and weel chair height at same level.

Two-person pivot (stepping) transfer-

Usually given for very sick persons, those who can not follow the instructions given. A best method of transferring associated with less risk for injury, fall etc. Make sure that the floor is not slippery. You can follow the instructions. Always try to minimize the distance between patients bed and weelchair to improve the safety and decrease the risk for injury.Follow the principles of body mechanics.Protect from injuries.