Injuries and musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are common in nurses and are often caused by lifting and moving patients. This is more than just an inconvenience, injuries are often life altering and career ending. Additionally, improper handling of patients is expensive and costs the United States over $7 billion each year in workers compensation costs, medical bills, and staff replacements. The American Nurses Association (ANA) works to prevent injury and protect nurse wellbeing in the workplace through Safe Patient Handling and Mobility programs and advocacy.
Official Position
In order to establish a safe environment for nurses and patients, ANA supports actions and policies that result in the elimination of manual patient handling.
Advocacy
Several states have passed legislation or regulations about Safe Patient Handling. ANA is committed to advocacy that prevents injuries and protects nurse wellbeing. ANA has prepared a legislative agenda report on safe patient handling and a summary of enacted state legislation.
Standards
Coming Soon! ANA is currently developing national interdisciplinary safe patient handling and mobility standards to help hospitals and other health care employers develop safe, effective, and enduring programs. The standards will be available summer 2013. Read media coverage on the initiative to develop standards to serve as a foundation for safe patient handling and mobility policy, practices, regulations and law: Advance for Long-Term Care Management | Hospital Employee Health.
Handle With Care® Campaign
ANA’s Handle With Care campaign is a profession-wide effort to prevent injuries and MSDs through:
Education and training about safe patient handling
Increasing the use of assistive equipment and safe-handling devices
Encouraging a federal and state ergonomics policy
Implementing a safe patient handling and movement program at your facility can be cost effective and pay for itself in as few as two years.
As you are developing your safe patient handling program, see the ANA Handle with Care brochure.