Patient Repositioning
Course name - Law and Management in Occupational Health and Safety
Patients in the Perioperative environment are often required to be repositioned on the operating table and most of these patients have had a regional or general anaesthetic, making it impossible for them (the patient) to assist staff in that repositioning.
The added risk in any repositioning is loss or damage to the patients’ airway, and maintaining the patients’ musculoskeletal alignment, so as to not cause any damage to nerves, muscles, limbs, spine and or neck etc. The repositioning should be assessed to determine if it can be done manually or by some assistive devices.
During the surgery it may be necessary to lift the patients’ legs, arms or head to prepare …show more content…
When transferring a patient from patient bed to operating table, it is important to have enough staff to assist with the transfer and to use the correctly placed support devices as well as using good body mechanics (ergonomic techniques). When patients are obese it may be necessary to use soft gel straps to support the patients legs so that they do not move off the operating table and cause debilitating and painful nerve damage.
This project is to develop a Safety Management Plan to implement a safe practical way to identify, assess and control risks in the Perioperative environment (Operating Theatre) specifically relating to the lateral transfer and or movement of patients requiring surgery at this hospital …show more content…
Step 1 | Look at the Hazard * Musculoskeletal disorders in nursing staff and orderlies when undertaking a lateral or horizontal transfer of unconscious patient from operating table to post-operative bed | How to look for HazardsKnowledge and Understanding Manual Handling Policies * Manual Tasks Involving the Handling of People Code of Practice 2001 * Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995 * Workplace Health and Safety Regulation 2008 * Manual Handling Training - especially regarding unconscious patients | What to look for * Practices that are causing discomfort either for the member of staff or patient * Practices that are likely to cause nerve or musculoskeletal injuries – shoulder, fingers, wrist, forearm, back, neck, sciatic nerve, knees, ankles
Patients in the Perioperative environment are often required to be repositioned on the operating table and most of these patients have had a regional or general anaesthetic, making it impossible for them (the patient) to assist staff in that repositioning.
The added risk in any repositioning is loss or damage to the patients’ airway, and maintaining the patients’ musculoskeletal alignment, so as to not cause any damage to nerves, muscles, limbs, spine and or neck etc. The repositioning should be assessed to determine if it can be done manually or by some assistive devices.
During the surgery it may be necessary to lift the patients’ legs, arms or head to prepare …show more content…
When transferring a patient from patient bed to operating table, it is important to have enough staff to assist with the transfer and to use the correctly placed support devices as well as using good body mechanics (ergonomic techniques). When patients are obese it may be necessary to use soft gel straps to support the patients legs so that they do not move off the operating table and cause debilitating and painful nerve damage.
This project is to develop a Safety Management Plan to implement a safe practical way to identify, assess and control risks in the Perioperative environment (Operating Theatre) specifically relating to the lateral transfer and or movement of patients requiring surgery at this hospital …show more content…
Step 1 | Look at the Hazard * Musculoskeletal disorders in nursing staff and orderlies when undertaking a lateral or horizontal transfer of unconscious patient from operating table to post-operative bed | How to look for HazardsKnowledge and Understanding Manual Handling Policies * Manual Tasks Involving the Handling of People Code of Practice 2001 * Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995 * Workplace Health and Safety Regulation 2008 * Manual Handling Training - especially regarding unconscious patients | What to look for * Practices that are causing discomfort either for the member of staff or patient * Practices that are likely to cause nerve or musculoskeletal injuries – shoulder, fingers, wrist, forearm, back, neck, sciatic nerve, knees, ankles