Effectiveness of an Evidence-Based Curriculum Module in Nursing Schools Targeting Safe Patient Handling and Movement

Abstract

Nursing schools in the United States have not been teaching evidence-based practices for safe patient handling, putting their graduates at risk for musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). The specific aim of this study was to translate research related to safe patient handling into the curricula of nursing schools and evaluate the impact on nurse educators and students' intentions to use safe patient handling techniques. Nurse educators at 26 nursing schools received curricular materials and training; nursing students received the evidence-based curriculum module. There were three control sites. Questionnaires were used to collect data on knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about safe patient handling for both nurse educators and students, pre- and post-training. In this study, we found that nurse educator and student knowledge improved significantly at intervention schools, as did intention to use mechanical lifting devices in the near future. We concluded that the curriculum module is ready for wide dissemination across nursing schools to reduce the risk of MSDs among nurses.

Using technology to enhance physical therapy students’ problem-solving skills around safe patient handling

“…This format is similar to that successfully implemented to train nurse educators in the USA. 32,33 The principles of safe patient handling were based on the consensus document developed by the Health and Safety Executive in the United Kingdom. 34 Two clinical patient handling scenarios were developed and converted to SBLi scenarios only for the GEM students to access to determine the additional benefit of the scenarios.…”

Improving transfer task practices used with air travelers with mobility impairments: A systematic literature review

“…Nine articles focused specifically on the significance of incorporating a no-lift policy when implementing and sustaining a safe patient-handling program; [18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26] six focused on introducing safe patient-handling programs to universityaffiliated hospitals and nursing programs. [27][28][29][30][31][32] Twelve studies analyzed the use of mechanical lift devices and assistive equipment during patient lift and transfer tasks. 14,[33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43] The study characteristics are displayed in Table 1.…”

“…© 2014 Macmillan Publishers Ltd. 0197-5897 Journal of Public Health Policy Vol 35,1,[26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42]. www.palgrave-journals.com/jphp/…”

Safe patient handling training for schools of nursing. Curricular materials.

“…Nelson et al [2007] describe the findings from the evaluation study. (An overview of the process used to develop the curriculum is described in a paper by Menzel et al [2007].)…”