Ergonomics Of Nursing Siobhan Mobley What is Ergonomics

Ergonomics Of Nursing Siobhan Mobley

What is Ergonomics? • Ergonomics is an applied science concerned with designing and arranging things people use so that the people and things interact most efficiently and safely.

Provide Resources and Support One of the main ways to avoid injuries in the work place is to provide employee with proper information and staff members that are willing to help guide them to do things in a safe manner.

Involve Employees Another way to prevent and keep up with safety hazards in the workplace is to involve employees. You can come up with things such as: -Surveys -Suggestion/ Concern Box -Offer Training

Applying Ergonomics to Nursing Top Ergonomic Issues In the Nursing Field: Safe Patient Handling Needle Safety Influenza

Safe Patient Handling In the nursing profession, constant and various lifting and repositioning of patients are required. As a result of so much heavy lifting (weight of patients vary) the back ends up in jeopardy of injury. Some of the ways to prevent strain of the back are to increase use of helpful equipment, getting proper training for lifting and assessing the patient based on level of assistance required, size and weight of patient, cooperation of patient, and any medical conditions the patient has that would effect how the nurse should lift or reposition them.

Needle Saftey Throughout a regular day as a nurse , they are constantly handling blood borne pathogens such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) hepatitis B virus hepatitis C virus In order to avoid nurses from getting exposed to these viruses there is actually a law called the Needlestick Law.

Needle. Stick Law The law requires employers to use work practice controls and safer needle devices that are engineered to eliminate or minimize exposure to bloodborne pathogens resulting from needlestick injuries. Employers must: • Demonstrate that they are reviewing new technology that can reduce risk of exposure to bloodborne pathogens by updating exposure control plans and documenting the decision-making process on implementing such technology. • Maintain a sharps injury log to track the type and brand of device used, the department or area where the incident occurred, and an explanation of the incident. The log must be maintained in a manner to protect the confidentiality of the injured employee. • Solicit input from employees responsible for direct patient care in the identification, evaluation and selection of effective safety devices and work practice controls, as part of the ongoing exposure control plan development process. Efforts to encourage staff input must be documented in the plan.

Influenza Another most common ergonomic issue in the nursing field is the contact with Influenza is a highly contagious viral infection of the respiratory passages causing fever, severe aching, and catarrh, and often occurring in epidemics. Ways a nurse can prevent catching Influenza are by the following: Flu vaccination Wash Hands Antiviral Medications

Sources http: //nursingworld. org/Main. Menu. Categories/Workplace. Safety/Health y-Work-Environment/Safe. Needles/Law http: //www. flu. gov/prevention-vaccination/prevention/ https: //www. osha. gov/ergonomics/guidelines/nursinghome/final_nh_g uidelines. html