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Hughes RG, editor. Patient Safety and Quality: An Evidence-Based Handbook for Nurses. Rockville (MD): Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (US); 2008 Apr.
Table 2
Interventions for Safe Patient Handling With Emerging Evidence
| Proposed Intervention | Description | Challenges to Implementation |
|---|---|---|
| Peer leader education | Traditional education approaches (didactic classes in risk, body mechanics, and training in lifting techniques) have not been effective in sustaining changes over time. Newer approaches to education and training have emerged, demonstrating early success with a need to study these trends over time. One new model that shows promise is use of local peer leaders. A peer leader is a nurse designated on each unit (or shift) who receives special training to work on site with colleagues to make practice changes to improve safety. Their roles include ongoing hazard evaluation of the work environment, assure competency in use of patient handling equipment and devices, help sustain the unit-based ergonomic program over time.109, 126 In the United States, peer safety leaders have been called Back Injury Resource Nurses (BIRNs),109 and Ergo Rangers,84 while in the Netherlands they are called Ergo Coaches. |
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| Clinical tools (algorithms and patient assessment tools) | Unfortunately, nurses have become accustomed to using whatever limited lifting aids are available, if they are available, rather than carefully matching equipment to specific patient characteristics. Cognitive aids can assist clinicians to apply research to practice, thereby reducing unnecessary variation in practice. Use of patient assessment protocols and algorithms can provide a standardized way to assess patients and make appropriate decisions about how to safely perform high-risk tasks.108, 109, 112, 127–129 |
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| After-action reviews (AAR) | After-action review is a way for nurses to learn not only from their own mistakes and near misses, but also from the mishaps experienced by their coworkers. It is not unusual for many nurses on a unit to identify a hazard and work around it, only to have another nurse fall prey to this risk in the environment. Immediately after an accident or near miss, staff will meet informally to evaluate what happened and how to prevent its reoccurrence on the unit. In AARs, staff should feel free to share knowledge without fear of embarrassment or recrimination. AAR is compatible with established mechanisms for dealing with errors and near misses such as incident reporting and root-cause analysis.130, 131 |
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- Table 2, [Interventions for Safe Patient Handling With Emerging Evidence]. - Pat...Table 2, [Interventions for Safe Patient Handling With Emerging Evidence]. - Patient Safety and Quality
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