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Difficulty: HardErgonomics and Safe Use of Equipment

A practical nurse (PN) is managing care and evaluating mobility interventions for several clients on a medical-surgical unit. Which of the following actions by the PN demonstrate appropriate application of ergonomic principles and safe use of equipment? Select all that apply.

  1. Maintaining a wide base of support and pivoting the feet rather than twisting the spine when moving a heavy monitoring device.Answer
  2. Placing an out-of-service tag on a sequential compression device with a frayed cord and routing it to biomedical engineering.Answer
  3. C
    Elevating the head of the bed to 90 degrees and raising the knee gatch to prevent a client with a recent total hip arthroplasty from sliding down.
  4. D
    Delegating the initial measurement and sizing of a new set of axillary crutches to the unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP).
  5. E
    Raising all four side rails on the bed to safely contain a restless client who repeatedly attempts to climb out of bed without assistance.
  6. Lowering the bed to the lowest possible level and confirming the caster locks are engaged prior to performing a stand-pivot transfer.Answer

Answer

The correct actions include maintaining a wide base of support and pivoting feet instead of twisting, tagging and removing equipment with frayed cords, and ensuring the bed is in the lowest position with caster locks engaged before a transfer.
Applying proper ergonomic principles, such as pivoting instead of twisting and maintaining a wide base of support, protects the nurse from injury. Removing damaged electrical equipment like frayed cords protects all individuals in the environment from shock or fire hazards. Finally, locking the bed casters and lowering the bed before a transfer stabilizes the equipment, which is an essential step to prevent the bed from rolling away and causing a fall.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Evaluate body mechanics during equipment handling.
Pivoting the feet and maintaining a wide base of support prevents spinal twisting and musculoskeletal injuries.
Proper ergonomics protect the nurse from work-related injuries when handling heavy medical devices.
2
Assess protocols for damaged electrical equipment.
Equipment with frayed cords must be tagged as out-of-service and sent for repair.
Using faulty equipment creates an immediate risk for electrical shock or fire, violating safety standards.
3
Identify safe parameters for client transfers.
The bed must be placed in its lowest position and caster locks firmly engaged before transferring a client.
This prevents the bed from shifting during the weight transition and reduces the distance of a potential fall.
4
Differentiate correct equipment use from improper clinical practices in the distractors.
Sizing crutches cannot be delegated; four side rails constitute a physical restraint; and severe hip flexion with a knee gatch is unsafe for arthroplasty clients.
Equipment use must align with the nurse's scope of practice, restraint guidelines, and specific post-operative physiological constraints.

Key Concept

Proper body mechanics, safe transfer protocols, and the immediate removal of faulty electrical devices are foundational to maintaining a safe care environment and preventing injury.
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Topics

Ergonomics and Safe Use of Equipment

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