The Importance of Manual Handling Awareness in Nursing
Manual Handling can be defined as transporting or supporting a load either by hand or by utilizing any other part of the body. It includes lowering, lifting, pulling, pushing or simply throwing a load away. In healthcare industry, this is not simply a load. It is a human body carrying injuries, disabilities or simply immobility and this handling of 60-80 kg of weight has to be done with the utmost of care. In any other Industry, this weight would have required the involvement of forklifts, but in healthcare industry the load has to be shared by nurses. Thus manual handling training for nurses is an integral part of any nursing assignment and nursing course.
It has been observed around the world that manual handling results in most injuries and aggravated chronic back pain to nursing professionals. It also results in the most number of injury related leaves and attrition from the nursing profession. Thus a proper manual handling training for nurses is imperative to prevent injuries to nursing personnel and deliverance of utmost care to patients. All nursing schools should be having a manual handling course for nurses, detailing out complex patient handling techniques, risks and prevention of potential injuries. It's important that nurses are trained and educated about the effects of manual handling.
What are the major contributors to nurse injuries?
The following incidences contribute majorly to nurse injury:
1. Manual handling of patients
2. Muscular stress involved with handling of heavy patients with aggravated injuries
3. Falls, trips and slips
4. Handling of trolleys and adjustment of beds
5. Handling of linens and aprons
A proper manual handling training for nurses involves an enhanced adaptation to manual handling principles, elimination of injury risks and utilization of mechanical devices for handling of load, wherever suitable and applicable.











