Patient Lifting/Transfer Mechanics
What are the most common work-related injuries for healthcare workings that can lead to disabilities?
Strains, sprains, and musculoskeletal injuries
During a two-person lift, who is in charge?
The person lifting the patient's torso
How do WRMSDs occur?
Repetitive movements over time causing wear and tear
What is the soft, tubular fabric immobilization device called that you could use to raise a child's arm above and behind the head?
Stockinette
What is the sheet-based method that is effective for immobilizing infants?
The mummy wrap
Which part of your body should stay stationary while your legs do the lifting?
Your back
What is orthostatic hypotension?
The sudden drop in blood pressure caused by standing or sitting upright
What is the ideal immobilization device?
It should be radiolucent, durable and easy to use
What should you do with a distressed parent during a pediatric exam?
Refer to the department policy and use clinical judgement, potentially asking the parent to help or have them wait outside the exam room
What body parts would you use an inflatable air splint for?
Extremities
The transfer sling
What does "lift with your legs, not you back" mean?
Using proper body mechanics by lifting with your legs to protect your back muscles and avoiding twisting your torso
What is the wrapping method for neonates or infants called?
Mummification or the mummy wrap
What are the two views that you need to get for a trauma c-spine exam when the patient is wearing a cervical collar?
AP and Lateral
How can you reduce voluntary motion for optimum image quality?
Giving clear instructions
What should you do first when encountering a patient in a wheelchair or stretcher? (Aside from checking their patient wrist band)
Find out their physical ability to move on their own
Where are the mobility muscles located?
In the arms and legs
How will the technologist establish a rapport with their patient before the use of an immobilization device?
Explain what needs to be done for the procedure to get the best diagnostic image
How would you apply tape to a pediatric or geriatric patient to prevent skin tears?
Twist the tape so the adhesive is not on the skin
What infant immobilizer allows a 360 degree rotation and includes a built-in gonadal shield?
The Pigg-O-Stat
What is the benefit of standing as close as possible to the object/person you are lifting, based on proper lifting mechanics?
It improves lifting safety/efficiency by reducing strain on your body
What is the first step before moving a patient to or from a stretcher?
Locking the stretcher
What must be done if the technologist is using a sandbag and part of it gets into the image?
Make a note to the radiologist stating the sandbag is present on the image so that radiologist doesn't read it as an artifact
How can you establish rapport with a pediatric patient?
Getting down to eye level with them
True or False: The Pigg-O-Stat is completely radiolucent and produces no artifacts
False, the Pigg-O-Stat can produce artifacts thanks to the built in shield and over-lapping of the plastic parts