Example of an Algorithm (Assessment Tool) to Aid in Decision Making Regarding Safe Patient Handling and Mobility to Reposition a Patient in Bed
Example of an Algorithm (Assessment Tool) to Aid in Decision Making Regarding Safe Patient Handling and Mobility to Reposition a Patient in Bed - Flowchart Example of an Algorithm (Assessment Tool) to Aid in Decision Making Regarding Safe Patient Handling and Mobility to Reposition a Patient in Bed Example of an Algorithm (Assessment Tool) to Aid in Decision Making Regarding Safe Patient Handling and Mobility to Reposition a Patient in Bed
«Flowchart»

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Start here

Start here

Is patient cooperative?

Is patient cooperative?

Is patient cooperative?

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

No

No

May require additional staff.

Evaluate/screen patient and reschedule if needed.

If safe to perform task, use one of these options.

May require additional staff.

Evaluate/screen patient and reschedule if needed.

If safe to perform task, use one of these options.

May require additional staff.

Evaluate/screen patient and reschedule if needed.

If safe to perform task, use one of these options.

Options:


    Utilize available bed features including Trendelenburg or rotation. Confirm whether bed accomplishes turns/pressure release or whether sling is required to finish turning.
    Ceiling lift or full body litting device with repositioning or supine sling.
    Air assisted lateral transfer device.
    Friction reducing device.

Bariatric patients require additional caregivers and expanced capacity devices.

Options:


    Utilize available bed features including Trendelenburg or rotation. Confirm whether bed accomplishes turns/pressure release or whether sling is required to finish turning.
    Ceiling lift or full body litting device with repositioning or supine sling.
    Air assisted lateral transfer device.
    Friction reducing device.

Bariatric patients require additional caregivers and expanced capacity devices.

Options:

Options:

    Utilize available bed features including Trendelenburg or rotation. Confirm whether bed accomplishes turns/pressure release or whether sling is required to finish turning.
    Ceiling lift or full body litting device with repositioning or supine sling.
    Air assisted lateral transfer device.
    Friction reducing device.

Utilize available bed features including Trendelenburg or rotation. Confirm whether bed accomplishes turns/pressure release or whether sling is required to finish turning.
Ceiling lift or full body litting device with repositioning or supine sling.
Air assisted lateral transfer device.
Friction reducing device.

Bariatric patients require additional caregivers and expanced capacity devices.

Coach, cue, or light touch.

May use bed features and/or assistive devices such as bed rope ladders or bed rails.

Coach, cue, or light touch.

May use bed features and/or assistive devices such as bed rope ladders or bed rails.

Coach, cue, or light touch.

May use bed features and/or assistive devices such as bed rope ladders or bed rails.

Can patient reposition independently?

Can patient reposition independently?

Can patient reposition independently?

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

No

No

End

End

End

Notes:


DO NOT PULL FROM HEAD OF BED. Manual patient repositioning is dangerous.
Discourage and remove draw sheets from beds and replace them with full body slings for repositioning. Using draw sheets on beds gives conflicting messages and makes the transition to technology use more difficult.
The repositioning sling and should be placed before a dependent patient is transferred to the surface.
Inflate mattress of low air loss beds to maximum setting to assit in repositioning.
Although some specially beds turn and/or rotate the patient, most specialists confirm that bed rotations are not sufficient to off load pressure off patient and recommend that use of a repositioning sling is the best option for full turns. Confirm with Wound Care that off-loading pressure is accomplished appropriately.
When using bed repositioning option, caregiver must assess skin integrity, support the turn, adjust limbs, and provide pillow supports.
For patients with delicate skin or pressure ulcers, care must be taken to avoid shearing force.
Working height should be appropriate for staff safely, at about elbow height.
For patients that can assist in moving up in bed, to encourage them to help, ask the patient to hold on the side rails above head, to help pull themselves up in bed, then to flex knees and push on the count of three.
Verify equipment is locked prior to transfer/movement.
If using seated sling, air assisted lateral device, or friction reducing device, obtain facility direction for leaving under patient.
The force required to logroll a patient is about 32% of the patient's body weight.
The force required to pull a dependent patient on a draw sheet is about 72.6% of the patient's body weight.
Caregivers should avoid push or pull forces greater than 20% of their own weight.

Notes:


DO NOT PULL FROM HEAD OF BED. Manual patient repositioning is dangerous.
Discourage and remove draw sheets from beds and replace them with full body slings for repositioning. Using draw sheets on beds gives conflicting messages and makes the transition to technology use more difficult.
The repositioning sling and should be placed before a dependent patient is transferred to the surface.
Inflate mattress of low air loss beds to maximum setting to assit in repositioning.
Although some specially beds turn and/or rotate the patient, most specialists confirm that bed rotations are not sufficient to off load pressure off patient and recommend that use of a repositioning sling is the best option for full turns. Confirm with Wound Care that off-loading pressure is accomplished appropriately.
When using bed repositioning option, caregiver must assess skin integrity, support the turn, adjust limbs, and provide pillow supports.
For patients with delicate skin or pressure ulcers, care must be taken to avoid shearing force.
Working height should be appropriate for staff safely, at about elbow height.
For patients that can assist in moving up in bed, to encourage them to help, ask the patient to hold on the side rails above head, to help pull themselves up in bed, then to flex knees and push on the count of three.
Verify equipment is locked prior to transfer/movement.
If using seated sling, air assisted lateral device, or friction reducing device, obtain facility direction for leaving under patient.
The force required to logroll a patient is about 32% of the patient's body weight.
The force required to pull a dependent patient on a draw sheet is about 72.6% of the patient's body weight.
Caregivers should avoid push or pull forces greater than 20% of their own weight.

Notes:

Notes:


DO NOT PULL FROM HEAD OF BED. Manual patient repositioning is dangerous.
Discourage and remove draw sheets from beds and replace them with full body slings for repositioning. Using draw sheets on beds gives conflicting messages and makes the transition to technology use more difficult.
The repositioning sling and should be placed before a dependent patient is transferred to the surface.
Inflate mattress of low air loss beds to maximum setting to assit in repositioning.
Although some specially beds turn and/or rotate the patient, most specialists confirm that bed rotations are not sufficient to off load pressure off patient and recommend that use of a repositioning sling is the best option for full turns. Confirm with Wound Care that off-loading pressure is accomplished appropriately.
When using bed repositioning option, caregiver must assess skin integrity, support the turn, adjust limbs, and provide pillow supports.
For patients with delicate skin or pressure ulcers, care must be taken to avoid shearing force.
Working height should be appropriate for staff safely, at about elbow height.
For patients that can assist in moving up in bed, to encourage them to help, ask the patient to hold on the side rails above head, to help pull themselves up in bed, then to flex knees and push on the count of three.
Verify equipment is locked prior to transfer/movement.
If using seated sling, air assisted lateral device, or friction reducing device, obtain facility direction for leaving under patient.
The force required to logroll a patient is about 32% of the patient's body weight.
The force required to pull a dependent patient on a draw sheet is about 72.6% of the patient's body weight.
Caregivers should avoid push or pull forces greater than 20% of their own weight.


DO NOT PULL FROM HEAD OF BED. Manual patient repositioning is dangerous.
Discourage and remove draw sheets from beds and replace them with full body slings for repositioning. Using draw sheets on beds gives conflicting messages and makes the transition to technology use more difficult.
The repositioning sling and should be placed before a dependent patient is transferred to the surface.
Inflate mattress of low air loss beds to maximum setting to assit in repositioning.
Although some specially beds turn and/or rotate the patient, most specialists confirm that bed rotations are not sufficient to off load pressure off patient and recommend that use of a repositioning sling is the best option for full turns. Confirm with Wound Care that off-loading pressure is accomplished appropriately.
When using bed repositioning option, caregiver must assess skin integrity, support the turn, adjust limbs, and provide pillow supports.
For patients with delicate skin or pressure ulcers, care must be taken to avoid shearing force.
Working height should be appropriate for staff safely, at about elbow height.
For patients that can assist in moving up in bed, to encourage them to help, ask the patient to hold on the side rails above head, to help pull themselves up in bed, then to flex knees and push on the count of three.
Verify equipment is locked prior to transfer/movement.
If using seated sling, air assisted lateral device, or friction reducing device, obtain facility direction for leaving under patient.
The force required to logroll a patient is about 32% of the patient's body weight.
The force required to pull a dependent patient on a draw sheet is about 72.6% of the patient's body weight.
Caregivers should avoid push or pull forces greater than 20% of their own weight.