Quotes from Reader Poll

January 2007 Issue – Safe Lifting News
"Nursing Resistance to Patient Lifts"

It is a time factor. They think that it takes too much time to go get the device and use it.

They say that it takes extra time they don't have to set up the devices for use.

Need to train properly at start to eliminate old "habits" & safe care of self & patient.

Many nurses tend not to use patient lifting devices because of a lack of training, uncomfortable with their own skill set and perceived lack of time due to the constant push by hospital administrations for "productivity". Because of their lack of trust in the patient handling device and their own skill level, nurses tend not to use the provided equipment leaving the item to other departments such as physical therapy to be the patient handling experts thus places themselves at greater risk for injury.

I've been involved in nursing training and the introduction of new equipment. They as a group are very resistant to any change. It seems they feel it will take more time to use a lift and time is already an issue.

Time and the familiarity of doing the way they always have.

Takes too long to get the equipment, or the equipment is not easy to use.

They say it is too time consuming.

I think it is because they find it hard to change and they think it is easier to keep doing it the old way.

The lifts are quickly available. The perception is that it would take too long.

My fellow nurses are hesitant when it comes to using our lifts because they are embarrassed by their weakness/need of assistance. Because they feel it takes too much time (more-so with repositioning devices as opposed to lifting devices). Repositioning devices are a challenge because in order to get benefit out of them for real challenging patients who they can't leave slings under, they have to turn/roll the patient to use the device.

It takes time to get the equipment/lifts. Nurses think "it won't happen to me" until it does. Then it’s too late.

Only in the beginning and mostly for older staff that have always done it manually. Newer nurses tend to like using lifts and turning assistive devices.

Culture, ignorance despite training, peer pressure, mis-perception it takes longer.

Nursing by nature is a constant flurry of 10 critical things to do and time/ people enough to do 3 of them. Interject into this reality the unpredictability of patients due to disease, medications, dehydration, you name it. Where in that scenario would anyone, even if philosophically in tune with the need for safe lift practices, find the patience or time to track down equipment if it is not a natural part of the environment (such as a hovermat on every bed would be)?

Perceived lack of time.

"They have always done it that way." "It takes too long to get the equipment."

Lack of time.

They say it takes too much time to go get the lift and then use it.

Time taken to procure the lift, patient objections, time it takes to use the lift properly.

Because some of them don't want to take to time and feel they "can do it themselves" until they are injured. The staff gets in a hurry and will not locate the lift and then use it correctly. We currently have only one resident one is being used on. Sometimes they take the lift into a room and the resident refuses the use, although they have had the importance of the use of the lift explained to them.

It is hard for people to break old habits. They think they're saving time not to use the devices.

They think it takes too much time.

They think it's easier just to get someone else to help them lift the patient.

They are not comfortable using the equipment and they don't want to look like they don't know what they're doing in front of their patients.

There is a perception that it will take too much time to use a lift device.

They resist all change at first, be it meds or anything else. I think they feel they have the experience on how to handle their job. The reason is that nurses use excuses such as, "it's easier to just do it with more people" or there're in a hurry. Of course if I catch anyone not using the lift then they will be reported.