Question

b) Discuss the assessment data you would collect before making the client’s bed (consider both the patient as well as the surrounding environment).

Answer 1

Ans) b. The assessment process should not override clinical judgment and patient-specific needs as determined by the health care team.

- An assessment should be performed before each handling procedure.

- Seek additional help if a procedure requires two or more persons.

- Use assistive devices (gait belts, slider boards, pillows, etc.) to perform the procedure safely.

- Assess the patient’s ability to tolerate the movement.

- Acute pain, shortness of breath, and inability to follow direction will place the health care provider and patient at risk for an injury.

- Always consider the principles of proper body mechanics prior to any procedure, such as raising the head of bed and tucking elbows in to help prevent injuries.

- Avoid lifting shoulders when positioning a patient.

- Never lift a patient; always use a weight shift to perform the procedure.

- When positioning a patient using a sheet, place palms of hands up. A palms-down technique increases risk for injury.
Vision and hearing loss and language barriers may increase risk for injury.