The purpose of the book The Illustrated Guide to Safe Patient Handling and Movement, written by authors Nelson, Motacki, and Menzel (2009), is to present a guide that illustrates safe and effective ways of moving patients and preventing injury to both staff and patients. Incorrect ergonomics can cause injury to a health care professional that can be career ending. It is vital in health care that caution should be exercised when moving patients for the safety of both health care professionals and patients. Nurses, physicians, nursing students, and ancillary staff who are involved in direct patient care are the intended audience for the book. The book has 10 chapters and 2 appendices that have algorithms. A guide for the use of pediatric slings is also included that can be used by health care professionals in determining the safest way to move pediatric patients to reduce the risk for injury. Throughout the book with each movement guide, there is a format that guides health care professionals in determining the most effective means of safe patient handling. Included in the format for determining the safest ways to assist patients is a section on assessment, creating a care plan, and proceeding with an intervention that may be guided by the algorithm. The book comes with a DVD that demonstrates safe patient movements for scenarios described in the book; however, I was unable to get the sound on the DVD to work.
The book has covered potential patients across the life span. Descriptions are given for scenarios of moving patients that include moving patients from a bed to a chair, from sitting to standing positions, turning patients in bed, and moving from a stretcher to a bed. Each of these descriptions for safe patient movement is demonstrated by step-by-step instructions for safe patient handling. In addition to the detailed information about safe patient handling, this book contains information on how to safely feed patients in a bed or a chair, as well as proper ways of performing patient hygiene.
Book chapters are laid out according to various clinical areas in nursing. Included in these areas are bariatric, medical-surgical, critical care, orthopedic, pediatric, and labor and delivery patients, as well as patients who are in rehabilitation and nursing home settings. Each chapter also has a short pretest that could be taken, and at the end of the chapter, there is a case scenario followed by a short posttest. This allows the reader to examine what was learned throughout the chapter.
The content of this book is very explicit in explaining methods of moving patients safely, reducing the risk of injury to both health care professionals and patients. The algorithms that are included in the appendices are an excellent tool that can be used as a reference for those who question whether they are using an appropriate method of moving a patient to avoid risk for injuries.
In conclusion, improper body mechanics and lack of proper assistive devices increase the risk of injury to a health care professional. It is important that those who perform direct patient care are aware of safety measures that can be implemented to ensure the safety of themselves and patients. This book is an excellent guide and resource for everyone who performs direct patient care. One drawback with the information that is provided in the book is that assistive equipment is not always readily available in health care facilities and this can create unsafe situations with patient movement. Adequate availability of tools to assist with safe patient movement, and the use of this guide would benefit everyone in healthcare.
-Jennifer Wood, MS, RN