Last month, Joyce Flayhan, Lead Nurse Advocate NAGE R 3-19, attended the National VA Safety Training conference sponsored by fellow union AFGE.  She returned from the conference with wealth of information and knowledge. Please review her very informative report about the conference. 

 

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During the AFGE NATIONAL VA SAFETY TRAINING, 2008, many courses were discussed.  One that I found particularly interesting was the course titled Safe Patient Handling presented by Mary Matz.  In this course Ms Matz provided the latest evidence based information related to pt handling and ergonomics.

 

First, Ms Matz shared that outside of the United States manually moving patients is banned.  This is because evidence has shown that it is UNSAFE TO MANUALLY MOVE/LIFT Patients who weigh > 35#.  It doesn’t matter if you position yourself correctly or add more people for help it is still UNSAFE.  Ms Matz also cited research which states that use of additional people assisting can actually compound injuries.  When one person is lifting they often sustain a compression injury but, if more people are utilized workers are at higher risk of sustaining both compression and shear injuries.  More information on this can be viewed at www.biodynamics.osu.edu (Ohio state University site).  NAGE advocates VAMHCS nurses having ACCESSIBILTY and INSTRUCTION on a variety of tools to prevent injury while caring for patients.   Repeatedly mentioned throughout the conference are the uses of ceiling lifts which are mounted in patient rooms and not stored somewhere or motorized robots utilized to facilitate patient transport when beds or stretchers must be used.

 

Secondly, she shared that training classes in ergonomics and lifting alone are ineffective.  She offers 30 years of data to back this up. (Lancet 1965) NAGE’s position is that information should be disseminated throughout the VAMHCS and the Accident Review Board so recommendations for re-education are not solely utilized when employees sustain lifting/positioning injuries.

 

 Thirdly, Ms Matz makes recommendations for accessibility of equipment, training in the proper use of equipment, developing unit champions who are given time away from regular duty to train/be trained,  and advice on whom and how policies should be implemented maximizing   a “culture of safety.”

 

Ms Matz is an industrial hygienist affiliated with Patient Safety Center of Inquiry/ James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital in Tampa, Florida.  She is available to come to VA facilities and conduct on site reviews and recommend appropriate interventions.  NAGE advocates VAMHCS utilize her expertise.  More information on safe lifting and ergonomics can be found at www.patientsafetycenter.com. 

 

The latest evidence shows that Nurses are not only at risk for ACUTE injury but have been sustaining CUMULITIVE injuries which can/are disabling.  This information is important to know because that aching back, sore knees, elbow and shoulder pain we are experiencing without a specific documented “work injury” are indeed work related.

 

NAGE advocates nurses know how to be safe.  Be familiar with equipment provided and hold responsible management persons accountable for training and utilizing evidence based intervention to reduce and eliminate workers injuries.  Apply to VAMHCS Employee Education to support staff education on this subject, visit EES site on the homepage for the necessary paperwork. One course available is the 8th annual Safe Patient Handling & Movement Conference March 10-14 in Florida.  VA Employees receive special rates.  Contact Mary.Matz@med.va.gov or the University of South Florida if you need a brochure.

 

Safety is everyone’s business!!!