Learning safe patient handling skills: student nurse experiences of university and practice based education.
BACKGROUND
Poor patient handling practices increase nurse injuries and reduce patients' safety and comfort.


BACKGROUND
UK Universities have a duty to prepare student nurses for patient handling activities occurring during clinical placements. This study examines students' experiences of moving and handling education in academic and clinical settings.


METHODS
A 34 item questionnaire was distributed to student nurses at one School of Nursing (n=432, response rate of 75%).


RESULTS
Many students undertook unsafe patient handling practices and provided reasons for this. There was a medium statistically significant correlation between the variables 'provision of supervision' and 'awareness of patient handling needs' (r(s)=.390, p=.000). 40% of students stated that their M&H competency was assessed through direct observation. Twenty six percent of the total sample (n=110), said they had begun to develop musculo-skeletal pain since becoming a student nurse. Forty-eight stated that this was caused by an incident whilst on placement.


CONCLUSIONS
Inadequate patient handling practices threaten student nurse safety in clinical settings. Although some students may be overly confident, they should be supervised when undertaking M&H activities.


CONCLUSIONS
Though important, University based M&H education will only be beneficial if students learn in clinical settings that take safe patient handling seriously.
Kneafsey
Rosie
R
University of Salford, School of Nursing, Allerton Building, Frederick Road, Salford M6 6PU, United Kingdom. r.kneafsey@salford.ac.uk
Haigh
Carol
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004510:Education, Nursing, Diploma Programs / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006804:Ergonomics / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017770:Lifting / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009745:Nursing, Supervisory; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D016272:Occupational Health; D010146:Pain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D018794:Problem-Based Learning; D017751:Safety Management / Q000458:organization & administration*; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology