Call to action to enhance safety for patients and caregivers

As workforce demographics and economic trends converge, they create an urgent call to action to enhance patient and caregiver safety. This month’s issue of American Nurse Journal brings this important issue to light, with an emphasis on the safe patient handling and mobility coordinator role. Think about the challenges we face.

• Today’s nursing workforce is aging. Data from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing identifies the median age of RNs as 46 years.
• The patients we serve are heavier than ever. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data indicate that roughly 40% of U.S. adults are obese, and the rate continues to increase. This means over 100 million adults are considered obese, with the prevalence of severe obesity at 9.3%.
• Staffing issues continue to cause concern for our healthcare system. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the United States will need 1.2 million new RNs by 2030 due to industry growth and retiring nurses.
• Economic realities require patients to move through the system more quickly due to shortened lengths of stay and financial pressures on care settings.

These trends create cause for concern as nurses lift older, heavier, and sicker patients, placing them at greater risk of injury. Too frequently, nurses deliver care within this reality because “We’ve always done it this way” or “It’s just part of the job.”

Although manual mobilization intentions are noble, the effects are far from optimal. I know many nurses with permanent back injuries as a result of moving obese patients without lifting mechanisms, sometimes because the hospital or nursing facility lacked the necessary equipment.

There’s no such thing as “safe lifting” when nurses use their bodies as the lifting system! When I attended nursing school, we learned about “safe body mechanics,” which today we know can be flawed. Moving a patient without technical assistance and without the proper preventive knowledge can lead to caregiver injuries. Just think about how many millions of dollars have been spent on workers compensation claims for employees who’ve sustained injuries when handling or moving patients.

For years, the American Nurses Association has supported legislation and advocacy for safe patient handling and mobility (SPHM), but many nurses remain unaware of this important work. That’s why it will take all of us, in every role, to make a difference. This month’s article features important concepts for you to consider when assessing your own organization’s approach to SPHM and aligning people, leadership, processes, and technology to set a course of action.

Nothing is more important than nurses’ health and well-being so that you can continue to do your vital work. You can make a difference by staying informed about current practices for yourself and for your patients. The profession has come a long way in understanding SPHM, but we have more to do. You can help ensure the success of your organization’s program and the achievement of better outcomes. Thank you for doing your part.

Lillee Gelinas, DNP, RN, CPPS, FAAN

Editor-in-Chief