Vårdpersonals upplevelse av arbete med patientförflyttningar — en intervjustudie från två ortopedkliniker i Stockholm

Abstract

Aim

The aim of this study was to investigate how nursing personnel experience and reflect on their work with patient transfers.

Background

Patient transfers constitute an important part of nursing care. The work technique of the nursing personnel is not only important for the health of the personnel but also for the patients' safety and rehabilitation. In this study patient transfer was defined as assistance of a patient in bed and between bed and wheelchair.

Methods

Interviews were held with 48 registered nurses and enrolled nurses from two orthopaedic clinics in Stockholm. The interviews were recorded and analysed by qualitative content analysis.

Findings

The experiences of the nursing personnel on their patient transfer work were divided into five categories; heavy work, space, nursing model, transfer aids, and work technique.

Conclusion

The work with patient transfers can be expressed as follows:

physically heavy

there was a lack of space at the orthopaedic departments

lack of personnel, transfer aids and continuous training in work technique make the work heavy

lack of support from the management and possibilities to discuss transfer problems made the work difficult.