Recommendations for vertical transfer of a postoperative total hip replacement patient (bed to chair, chair to toilet, chair to chair, or car to chair).

Vertical transfers of postoperative orthopaedic patients pose a high risk to healthcare workers for developing work-related musculoskeletal disorders. The task is considered high risk based on weight limits and awkward positioning. A task force including representatives from the National Association of Orthopaedic Nurses, the American Nurses Association, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, the Patient Safety Center of Inquiry at the James A. Haley Veterans Administration Medical Center in Tampa, Diligent Services, and Guldmann, Inc., developed an ergonomic tool for determining best practices for safe vertical transfers. Current concepts of ergonomic safety, scientific evidence, and safe patient-handling equipment and devices were incorporated into this ergonomic tool.

Recommendations for turning patients with orthopaedic impairments.

Nurses and other caregivers face high risk for developing work-related musculoskeletal disorders associated with turning (logrolling) patients with orthopaedic conditions. The task is considered high risk on the basis of weight limits and awkward positioning. A task force including representatives from the National Association of Orthopaedic Nurses the American Nurses Association, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, the Patient Safety Center of Inquiry at the James A. Haley Veterans Administration Medical Center in Tampa, Diligent Services, and Guldmann, Inc., developed an ergonomic tool for determining best practices for safe patient turning. Scientific evidence, concepts of ergonomic safety, and safe patient handling equipment were incorporated into this ergonomic tool.

Recommended weight limits for lifting and holding limbs in the orthopaedic practice setting.

Nurses and other caregivers face high risk for developing work-related musculoskeletal disorders while lifting and holding limbs in the orthopaedic practice setting. A task force including representatives from the National Association of Orthopaedic Nurses, American Nurses Association, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Patient Safety Center of Inquiry at the James A. Haley Veterans Administration Medical Center in Tampa, Diligent Services, and Guldmann, Inc., developed an orthopaedic clinical tool for determining maximum recommended weight limits for lifting and holding arms and legs for treatment of the orthopaedic patient. Scientific evidence, concepts of ergonomic safety, and safe patient-handling equipment were incorporated into this clinical tool.

Safe ambulation of an orthopaedic patient.

Nurses and other caregivers face high risk for developing work-related musculoskeletal disorders associated with manual ambulation of patients with orthopaedic conditions. In addition to the physical demands needed to support the patient's weight during ambulation, injury risk increases if the patient falls. A task force including representatives from the National Association of Orthopaedic Nurses, American Nurses Association, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and Patient Safety Center of Inquiry at the James A. Haley Veterans Administration Medical Center in Tampa developed an ergonomic tool for determining best practices for safe ambulation of orthopaedic patients (C. A. Sedlak, M. O. Doheny, A. Nelson, & T. R. Waters, 2009). Scientific evidence, concepts of ergonomic safety, and safe patient-handling equipment were incorporated into an ergonomic tool designed to increase safety and reduce unnecessary variation in practice associated with this high-risk patient-handling task (National Institute for Occupational Safety Health, 1997; National Research Council/Institute of Medicine, 2001; A. Nelson, 2006; T. Waters, 2007).