Education and Training
Introduction
Education and training are critical to the success of any safe patient handling program, especially training on proper patient handling, equipment use, and the benefits of safe patient handling.
By educating all staff, including physicians, about the safe patient handling program, hospitals can reduce instances of a clinician asking or expecting colleagues to move patients in an unsafe way.
Training can range from onsite demonstrations of equipment use and maintenance to broader safe patient handling education programs and national conferences.
- Make sure that relevant workers are trained on using mechanical lift equipment. Caregivers should feel comfortable using the equipment.
- Require ongoing training. Programs tend to be less successful over time if they do not receive adequate attention. Including safe patient handling procedures and policies in annual competency sessions is one way to remind workers of the program's importance and promote equipment proficiency.
- Consider mentors and coaches. In addition to monitoring new employees, nurse managers and others can serve as mentors and peer coaches in every unit, reminding their colleagues how and when to use safe patient handling procedures and equipment.
- Train caregivers to check each patient's mobility every time. Every patient has unique characteristics and mobility capabilities. It is important to assess these regularly, and to communicate each patient's level of mobility and need for assistance to all relevant caregivers.
- Engage patients and their families. Patients may not understand the need for mechanical equipment at first. You can engage them in safe handling by explaining to them and their families that it is for their safety as well as the workers' safety.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
4-1. Why is it important to educate and train all staff, including physicians, about your safe patient handling program?
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