title: Safe patient handling program in critical care using peer leaders: lessons learned in the Netherlands.
abstract: Occupational back pain remains a serious problem for nurses. In Dutch health care, ergonomic changes are stimulated through convenants. For acute and critical care, a covenant was drawn up and guidelines for nursing practice developed and implemented. Because of the diverse and rapidly changing nature of ergonomic problems, the process has to be specific. A strong emphasis thus was placed on self-management and empowerment of nurses. One or two nurses were appointed per ward as peer leaders, called ergocoaches. They received additional training and were given responsibility for safe work practices. This article reports on progress made to date, viewed as work in progress.
authors.affiliation: LOCOmotion, Research in Health Care, Brinkerpad 29, 6721 WJ Bennekom, The Netherlands. j.j.knibbe@wxs.nl
authors.forename: Hanneke J J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Knibbe
authors.forename: Nico E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Knibbe
authors.forename: Annemarie J W M
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Klaassen
mesh_terms: D000041:Absenteeism; D000208:Acute Disease / Q000451:nursing; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003422:Critical Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing; D006804:Ergonomics / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007857:Leadership; D017770:Lifting / Q000009:adverse effects; D009426:Netherlands; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology; D016272:Occupational Health; D010379:Peer Group; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017751:Safety Management / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014187:Transportation of Patients / Q000379:methods; D016526:Workload