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Difficulty: EasyErgonomics and Safe Use of Equipment

A practical nurse (PN) is planning to assist a client who has right-sided weakness to transfer from the bed to a wheelchair. Which action by the PN demonstrates proper ergonomics and safe equipment use?

  1. Position the wheelchair on the client's unaffected left side.Answer
  2. B
    Bend at the waist and keep the feet close together when lifting the client.
  3. C
    Apply a physical restraint to the client during the transfer to ensure safety.
  4. D
    Assign the initial transfer to an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) without PN supervision.

Answer

Position the wheelchair on the client's unaffected left side.
Placing the wheelchair on the client's strong (unaffected) side is a fundamental principle of safe patient handling. It allows the client to reach for the wheelchair armrest with their strong arm and pivot on their strong leg, ensuring a stable and safe transfer while minimizing physical strain on the nurse.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the client's mobility limitations and functional abilities.
The client has right-sided weakness, meaning the left side is the strong (unaffected) side.
Understanding the client's physical capabilities dictates how the transfer equipment should be arranged.
2
Determine the optimal placement for the wheelchair.
The wheelchair must be placed on the client's left side.
Transferring toward the strong side allows the client to bear weight and pivot safely using their functional leg and arm.
3
Plan the nurse's physical movements for the transfer.
The nurse will use a wide base of support and bend at the knees.
Proper ergonomics and body mechanics are required to prevent musculoskeletal injuries to the healthcare worker.

Key Concept

Safe Client Transfers and Body Mechanics
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Topics

Ergonomics and Safe Use of Equipment

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