Transferring clients (for nursing assistant training)
Definitions & Key takeaways
A transfer is defined as the process of moving a person from one surface to another one. Clients that typically require a nursing assistant's help with transferring include those who are weak or paralyzed, have recently had surgeries, or are injured.
Transferring clients involves careful planning and executing, to ensure the safe and comfortable movement of a client. It also requires an individualized transfer plan that takes into account the client's physical condition and specific needs. There is also a need for effective communication with the client, family members, and nursing staff at the destination location.
Before the transfer, the client should be prepared and made comfortable, and during the transfer, their vital signs should be monitored as necessary. Once the client has arrived at their new location, the nursing staff should assist with the transition, which may include setting up medical equipment and orienting the client to their new surroundings.
Transfer is defined as the process of moving a person from one surface to another. One.
Clients that typically require a nursing assistance. Help with transferring include those who are weak or paralyzed have recently had surgeries or are injured.
The most common hospital transfers include bed to wheelchair, transfer, wheelchair to bed, bed to stretcher and vice versa.
Regardless of the type of transfer, you should always keep in mind some safety measures to protect yourself and your clients plan the transfer and explain the procedure to the client.
Adjust the bed height to a comfortable level for work and lower the side rails. If they are up when using wheelchairs, don't forget to line up the front swivel wheels with the back wheels.
When transferring clients. As far as clothing measures go, a person's clothing should fit them well, while their shoes must provide a good grip and have nonskid soles.
During the transfer, clients should always lead with their stronger side, but they should not hold on to you around your neck.
Instead they can use your arm or the arm of the chair for support. Don't put your hands under the client's arms to support them because if they fall, this can lead to more injuries, protect yourself by using correct body mechanics and most importantly, spread your feet, shoulder with a part and keep your back straight.
Now, let's focus on a transfer belt also called a gate belt. When your client is unable to sit, stand up or walk, you can use a transfer belt to make the whole process easier and safer.
When used to help a person walk. This belt is usually made from canvas nylon or leather with a buckle at the end.
Some belts also have loops that the caregiver can hold on to. The transfer belt is put around the client's waist and it can be used to maintain the stability of the client.
Reposition individuals in chairs and wheelchairs and assist with ambulation. It's important to note that these belts can be used only in individuals that can bear weight, weight bearing refers to a person's ability to stand on one or both legs.
On the other hand, clients that are unable to bear weight require mechanical lifts for transfer. But even if the client can bear weight transfer belts cannot be used in individuals that are recovering from abdominal surgery or in individuals that have severe cardiac or respiratory diseases.
If you are not sure if the transfer belt is a good choice for the client check the nursing care plan or simply ask the nurse now to apply the transfer belt first assist the client to a sitting position, help them reposition their legs so that they are hanging over the edge of the bed.
Put the transfer belt around the person's waist over the clothing. The belt should not cause discomfort or impair the person's breathing.
And remember you should be able to slide your fingers under the belt. Also make sure that a client's breasts are not caught under the belt.
Once you apply the transfer belt, tuck in any excess straps for greater safety during the transfer, use the underhand grasp when holding the belt, moving on to bed to wheelchair transfer supplies that are needed to perform.
This procedure include a wheelchair, a transfer belt, the person's robe slippers or shoes and a lap blanket, which is optional.
First, let's focus on the transfer with the help of one assistant or in other words, on your own place, the wheelchair on the client's stronger side, lock the brakes and lower the bed to its lowest position.
Make sure that the person's feet are flat on the floor and their hands are holding the edge of the bed, help them put on a robe and shoes and finally apply the transfer belt.
Next position yourself facing the client with your back straight knees, bent and feet, shoulder with a part have the person lean forward as you firmly grasp the belt from underneath.
Don't forget to prevent sliding and falling of your client by placing your knees against their knees and by blocking their feet with your feet, use a gentle rocking motion to reduce the effort needed to lift the client do this by moving the person back and forth, but make sure that the movement is simultaneous and that your bodies are moving in the same direction at the same time, tell them that on the count of three, they should push down on the bed with their hands.
At the same time, you should pull on the transfer belt as you straighten your knees and lift up the client. Alternatively, if the client is weak, they can rest their arms on your arms.
Once you are in the standing position, move toward the wheelchair by taking small steps in a slow shuffle. This movement is also referred to as pivoting, continue to support the person in the standing position by holding the transfer belt as they turn.
Also continue to block their knees and feet to prevent falling, assist them until they reach the armrest and the backs of their legs touch the edge of the wheelchair finally by bending your knees, lower the person into the wheelchair.
At the same time, the client can use the armrests for support. Once you make sure that the person is comfortable, remove the transfer belt, place the client's feet on the footrests buckle the wheelchair safety belt and cover the person's lap and legs with a blanket to perform wheelchair to bed transfer, reverse the order of the previously described steps.
Now, some clients might be too large or too uncooperative for you to transfer alone. So you need to know how to transfer clients with two assistance to perform this transfer.
You need a wheelchair, the person's robe slippers or shoes and a lap blanket if desired. First, make sure that the height of the bed is promoting good body mechanics.
Next place the wheelchair next to the bed facing the foot of the bed and lock the brakes, position yourself behind the wheelchair and next to the bed, pass your arms under the client's arms and firmly grasp their forearms.
At the same time, the other assistant should grasp their thighs and calves together on the count of three, lift the person from the bed and lower them into the wheelchair.
Check that the person is comfortable, then place the person's feet on the footrests, buckle the wheelchair safety belt and cover the person's lap and legs with a blanket.
Next we have a bed to stretcher. Transfer.
Stretchers are also known as trolleys and they are typically used to transport people to surgery rooms or diagnostic testings, but they can also be used to transport comatose or severely ill people.
This type of a transfer requires at least three assistance. A stretcher, a lift sheet and a blanket.
First raise the bed to its highest level and lock the wheels. Make sure that the lift sheet is positioned under the person's shoulders and hips.
If the lift sheet is not on the bed, you have to place one to do this first cross the client's arms on their chest and bend the client's knee that's closest to you.
Fold the lift sheet in half and place it next to the person. Push the client's shoulder and hip and roll them away from you tuck the lift sheet as far as you can under the person's body again, make sure that it's positioned under their shoulders and hips, roll the client back and go to the opposite side of the bed, pull the folded part out and make sure that you have enough sheet on both sides to perform the transfer.
Additionally, to make the transfer easier and safer. You can also use a slide board.
Once the lift sheet is in place, cross the person's arms on their chest, you should stand on one side of the bed while the other two assistants stand on the other side, holding the side of the sheet furthest from them.
On the count of three, they should pull on the sheet, rolling the person toward them. While you help push the client into the lateral position, place the slide board on the bed and gently roll the client back into the supine position, place the stretcher next to the bed, lock the wheels and make sure that the stretcher is slightly lower than the bed.
One assistant should stand at one side of the bed while the other two should position themselves on the outside edge of the stretcher for a better grip fan, fold the lift sheet as close as possible to the client's body on the count of three with the help of the assistant that's next to you, pull the sheet with the client onto the stretcher while the third assistant holds the slide board.
Finally make sure that the person is in good body alignment. If you are not using a slide board, on the count of three simultaneously, lift up the sheet and move the client onto the stretcher to perform stretcher to bed.
Transfer. Reverse the order of the previously described steps.
The last one to cover is transferring a person using a mechanical lift and some facilities have these assistive devices to help move clients that are too heavy, can't bear weight or require assistance of more than one person to transfer to complete this procedure.
You must have a wheelchair mechanical lift, a sling and a proper size and a lap restraint. If ordered, the lap blanket is optional before the transfer.
Be sure that the sling straps, hooks and chains are in good condition. Next, confirm that the person's weight does not exceed the lift's capacity as far as the procedure goes.
This transfer requires two assistance. First, make sure that the height of the bed is at a comfortable working position, position the wheelchair next to the bed facing the foot of the bed and lock the brakes, make sure the lift and the wheelchair are on the same side of the bed place.
The sling under the client using the same technique as described with a lift sheet center, the sling under the person so that the lower edge of the sling is positioned under the client's knees.
While the upper edge is positioned under the shoulders, attach the straps to the sling, pass them under the client's arms and bring them to the front of the chest position.
The wheelbase of the lift under the bed, widen the lift space to increase its stability and lock the lifts, wheels, bring the swivel bar over the client and attach the sling to it.
The short chains or straps that support the upper body, hook into the top holes and the long chains or straps that support the legs hook into the bottom holes, ask the person to cross their arms over their chest and explain that they must not hold on to the swivel bar.
Instead they can hold on to the straps during the transfer. Lift the client off the bed and release the brakes during the transfer, your assistant should support the person's legs as you move, the client's back should be toward the seat.
Finally lower the client into the wheelchair and unhook the sling while performing a transfer. You must recognize the important signs, symptoms and situations where you should immediately inform the nurse.
These include dizziness, shortness of breath, chest pain and headaches. You should also inform the nurse if you notice any changes in the client's grip or strength.
If a person refuses to participate in the transfer, or if you notice that the equipment for transfer is not working properly for documentation.
First note, if the transfer belt was used, next mention the nature of the transfer and who assisted you. Additionally, you must document the appearance of the skin on the buttocks after transferring the clients from a wheelchair to bed.
If the bed to stretcher transfer is performed, write down whether or not you used transfer aids, side rails or safety straps also document the time of transfer and where the client is being transported.
On the other hand, if the mechanical lift is used, also note if you used any special positioning aids, finally document how the client tolerated the transfer and mention if they experienced dizziness, shortness of breath, chest pain or any other type of discomfort.
All right, as a quick recap, the transfer is defined as the process of moving a person from one surface to another. One.
Clients that typically require help during transfer include weak and paralyzed individuals or individuals that had injuries or operations of the hip leg or foot.
The most common hospital transfers include bed to wheelchair transfer, wheelchair to bed bed to stretcher and vice versa.
Regardless of the type of transfer, you should always follow safety measures to protect yourself and your clients.
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