Safe Patient Handling for Nursing Assistants
Presented by Michael Fragala and Guy Fragala
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Meet your instructors
Michael Fragala
Michael Fragala has worked in the healthcare business operations arena for the majority of his career and has served as a Regional Clinical Director, primarily responsible for clinical operations and strategic planning, within national post-acute accounts. Presently Mr. Fragala is employed by Joerns Healthcare overseeing…
Guy Fragala
Dr. Fragala has more than 45 years of experience as an Occupational Safety and Health professional and is currently the Senior Advisor for Ergonomics at the Patient Safety Center of Inquiry in Tampa, Florida. He recently served as Champion for the Creating the Safer Environment Program for Joerns Healthcare and Director of…
Chapters & learning objectives
1. Why is Safe Patient Handling Important
Occupational risk factors of patient handling and mobility include exertion, repetition, posture and duration of exposure. These activities can pose significant risk to direct care workers as well as their patients. This chapter explores the magnitude of the occupational injury problem, including both direct and indirect costs related to injuries that result from manual patient handling.
2. Understanding Risk Factors and Reducing the Impact of These Risk Factors
Ergonomics and body mechanics play an important role in safe patient handling. This chapter explains what safe patient handling is and why it is important. The importance of staffing, programs and equipment will also be addressed.
3. What is Safe Patient Handling and Mobility and Why is it Important to You in Your Job?
Understanding the role of nursing assistants in identifying risk factors for occupational injury is essential to promoting a culture of safety. This chapter will explore the various activities that put direct care workers and patients at increased risk of injury, including exertion, repetition, posture, duration of exposure and other aspects of direct care workers’ daily routines.
4. Interview With Caregiver
Through a discussion with a nurse, this chapter will explore how direct care staff feel at the end of their day, what types of activities they see as potential risks and what they have done to offset these risks.
5. Available Technology and Solutions
How do you use technology and assistive devices to reduce risk? This chapter explores the different options available to you and how to best utilize what’s available in your facility. This chapter also includes a discussion on when to use assistive devices, including information on beds, lateral transfers, active transfers, passive transfers, falls and DME.
6. What is a “Culture of Safety” and What is Your Role in Promoting a Safety Culture and How We Develop Support Within Our Facility
Direct care workers play an important role in creating a culture of safety. This chapter includes a discussion on the role of the nursing assistant in developing a culture of safety, as well as how statistics can be a powerful tool to gain buy in from decision makers and improve the safety and quality of patient care. In addition, this chapter includes a discussion on how to best utilize contracted vendors to support your facility’s change initiatives.
