American Nurses Association position statement on elimination of manual patient handling to prevent work-related musculoskeletal disorders.
In order to establish a safe environment for nurses and patients, the American Nurses Association (ANA) supports actions and policies that result in the elimination of manual patient handling. Patient handling, such as lifting, repositioning, and transferring, has conventionally been performed by nurses. The performance of these tasks exposes nurses to increased risk for work-related musculoskeletal disorders. With the development of assistive equipment, such as lift and transfer devices, the risk of musculoskeletal injury can be significantly reduced. Effective use of assistive equipment and devices for patient handling creates a safe healthcare environment by separating the physical burden from the nurse and ensuring the safety, comfort, and dignity of the patient.
D000575:American Nurses' Association; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D006804:Ergonomics; D006801:Humans; D017770:Lifting / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016272:Occupational Health; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States