For example, you may say, “I am going to transfer you to this chair, supporting you with my arms,” or “My assistant and I are going to move you to this stretcher, supporting you with a slide board so the transfer is smooth. ”
You can also test their feet by gripping each of their feet between your hands. Ask the patient to press down on your hands like they are pressing the accelerator of a car. Notice which side feels stronger in your hands.
You should be wearing non-slip shoes to ensure you have a solid grip on the floor. If you are transferring a patient from a bed, check that the wheels on the bed are in the locked position so it does not move or shift when you transfer the patient. If you are transferring a patient in their home, move any area or throw rugs that could cause you to trip.
Putting the chair on the patient’s dominant side will help you move them more easily, as they will be able to put more strength into you as you transfer them. If there is an arm guard on the bed, lower it so it is not in the way.
Try to roll the patient as close to the edge of the bed as possible when you shift them onto their side.
Do not use the gait belt as a handle or a way to pick up the patient. It’s purpose is to create friction when you lift the patient so they do not fall.
Make sure the patient keeps their hands by their sides so they can support themselves when you lift them. If the patient has strength in their legs, instruct the patient to support their weight with their legs as you transfer them.
If you are lowering them into a wheelchair, you can then reposition the feet guards and instruct the patient to put their feet in the guards so they are well supported in the chair. Confirm the move went well by asking the patient, “How do you feel?” or “Feeling okay in the chair?” If they answer “yes,” you can wheel them away in the chair or let them sit in the chair on their own.
Angle the wheelchair 30-45 degrees from the side of the bed. Make sure the bed is lowered so that it is level with the chair. Put the brakes of the wheelchair on. Move the footrests out of the way.
Put a hand behind their shoulders so that it supports their neck and top vertebrae of their back. Instruct the patient to push up on their elbows and hold the side rails. Keep your hand on their back so you support their neck and shoulders. Do not let the patient put an arm over your shoulders. Shift your weight slowly from the foot nearest them to the back foot, while you grasp their outer thighs and assist them in swinging their legs slowly over the side of the bed. Lifting with your thighs, slowly raise the patient to a sitting position. Ask your patient to push down on the bed with the arm that is against it. If they are stronger, let them push themselves up. Observe your patient as they sit. If they seem dizzy or start tilting, steady them and let them sit unassisted again.
Instruct your patient to push up with their hands, leaning forward over their feet. They can then swing their bottom onto the bed and sit down. Make sure to keep a hold on the gait belt to prevent your patient from falling. Offer words of encouragement as you go if the patient is new to this. You might say, “Nice and slow. Both feet on the floor. Great work. " If your patient is pivoting from a bed into a chair, have them put their hands on the armrests and lower themself down.
If the head of the bed is raised, lower it so it sits flat.
Adjust the bottom sheet so it sits over the slide board. Make sure the area around the stretcher is free of any cords, wires, or tubes so you are not at risk of tripping.
Check that the patient’s knees are still bent and their arms are still firmly across their chest.
Check that you and your assistant have a good grip on the bottom sheet and the slide board when sliding the patient. It may be necessary for the assistant to get onto the bed to slide the patient over. Make sure they position themselves on their knees on the bed, not on the slide board, to move the patient safely.
Raise the guards up on the stretcher so the patient is supported. Ask them if they are feeling okay on the stretcher to ensure they are comfortable. You may ask, “How do you feel?” or “Feeling okay on the stretcher?” If they answer “yes,” you are good to roll them away on the stretcher.
