Abstract
This issue of Workplace Health & Safety contains a Continuing Nursing Education Module on “Initial Results of an Evidence-Based Safe Patient Handling and Mobility Program to Decrease Hospital Worker Injuries” 1.0 contact hour of continuing nursing education credit will be awarded by AAOHN upon successful completion of the posttest and evaluation.
A certificate will be awarded when the following requirements are met by the participant: (1) Participant logs on to the AAOHN LMS website at www.aaohn.org/education/online-learning-center and enrolls in the course ($10 members; $15 non-members); (2) The completed posttest and course evaluation are entered online at at http://www.aaohn.org by February 2019; (3) A score of 75% (6 correct answers) is achieved by the participant.
Upon completion of this lesson, the occupational health nurse will be able to:
Discuss issues associated with a safe patient handling program in a small hospital
The American Association of Occupational Health Nurses, Inc. is an Approved Provider of continuing nursing education by the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses, Inc., an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.
The American Association of Occupational Health Nurses, Inc. is additionally approved as a CNE provider by the California Board of Registered Nursing (#CEP9283).
Contact hours received for successful completion of the posttest and evaluation may be used for relicensure, certification, and re-certification.
An existing program for safe patient handling was described. The existing program for safe patient handling was not meeting expectations. A comprehensive program for safe patient handling did not exist for this institution. A program for safe patient handling was not needed at this institution.
Is the same as the construction industry Exceeds the injury rate for hazardous industries Is less severe than injury rates in the manufacturing sector Cannot be determined due to limitations in reporting requirements
Injury surveillance data Interviews of employees and stakeholders Review of existing policies and procedures All of the above
OSHA Total Case Incident Rates (TCIR) Days Away, Restricted, or Transferred (DART) TCIR:DART ratio Annual cost for WMSD injuries
Through a literature review By asking nurses and therapists for their ideas By asking physicians for recommendations By calling other health care institutions in the region
Written safe patient handling policy SPHM training Full-time occupational/employee health nurse Post-injury analysis
Use of a pilot group to provide feedback about the training module An evaluation of equipment competency Review and revision of a draft SPHM policy All of the above
Minimizing the diversity of people involved in program planning Building leadership awareness of current and proposed legislation related to employee and patient safety Keeping employee safety efforts separate and distinct from other initiatives Convincing top leadership that cost is no object where safety is concerned