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When working with patients, especially those with severe diseases, it is essential for the medical staff not only to relieve the persons symptoms but also not to worsen their condition due to negligent actions or errors. Therefore, it is possible to say that the guidelines for safe patient handling are extremely valuable. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (n.d.), the single greatest risk factor for overexertion injuries in healthcare workers is the manual lifting, moving and repositioning of patients (para. 1). Thus, overexertion injuries can be decreased by ensuring that manual handling is replaced with safer interventions and methods, including the no-lift and limited lift policies. The former means that manual handling must be avoided by medics in all situations in order not to worsen the condition of a client. As for the limited lift policy, it means that manual handling must be reduced to the minimum and used only in specific cases.
Immobility may have severe effects on each body system, and it is necessary to consider and address them. For example, according to the Registered Nursing Staff (2021), lack of movement makes the circulatory system slow, leading to stress and pressure on the heart. Further, muscles begin to lose their mass and strength, which results in pain. Additionally, it is common for older people to lose their bone strength because of immobility (Registered Nursing Staff, 2021). Finally, there may be severe psychological complications, including feelings of loneliness, helplessness, and withdrawal.
It is essential to reduce the effects of immobility because, if not addressed, it can lead to severe complications, including bedsores. It is recommended to mobilize the patient as soon as possible, implement fall prevention methods, monitor vital signs, encourage the client to follow the physical therapy plan, and control the persons level of pain. Finally, it is required that the care for immobile patients is interprofessional. For example, the collaboration between a nurse who performs routine examinations and a doctor who makes sure the treatment plan is followed is effective. Additionally, this team also needs a physical therapist who is responsible for the physical therapy plan and a pharmacist who makes sure the patient receives the required medication.
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Safe patient handling and mobility (SPHM). CDC. Web.
Registered Nursing Staff. (2021). Mobility and immobility: NCLEX-RN. Registered Nursing. Web.
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