title: To lift or not to lift: patient-handling practices.
abstract: Musculoskeletal injury is common among nurses as a result of lifting and handling patients. In response to musculoskeletal injuries, safe patient-handling programs are being instituted to decrease the risk of injuries and resulting impaired function. This study was designed to identify patient-handling practices in clinical practice. This qualitative study used 128 hours of observations of patient-handling practices and interviews of 32 nursing staff who discussed these practices. Findings demonstrated five factors impact nurses' judgment regarding the best way to move patients: complexity of everyday care, patient treatment goals, time, knowledge, and equipment issues.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Minnesota State University, Minneapolis, MN, USA. deruih@mnsu.edu
authors.forename: Hans-Peter
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: de Ruiter
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liaschenko
mesh_terms: D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D017770:Lifting / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055805:Moving and Lifting Patients / Q000379:methods*; D009141:Musculoskeletal System / Q000293:injuries*; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017751:Safety Management