Affiliations: School of Kinesiology, The University of Western
Ontario, Ontario, Canada | Department of Kinesiology, University of Windsor,
Windsor, Ontario, Canada
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Dr. David M. Andrews, Professor,
Department of Kinesiology, University of Windsor, 401 Sunset Avenue, Windsor,
Ontario, Canada N9B 3P4. Tel.: +1 519 253 3000 x2433; Fax: +1 519 973 7056;
E-mail: dandrews@uwindsor.ca
Abstract: Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the perceptions
of student and staff nurses regarding training they received and their
confidence in performing a variety of common manual patient transfers (MPTs),
given that inadequate training may have implications for injury risk. Participants: Student nurses (n=163) from a mid-sized university and staff
nurses (n=33) from a small rural hospital in the university's region. Methods: Participants were surveyed to determine which of 19 MPTs they
perceived having received training for and had greatest confidence performing. Results: The staff nurses perceived being trained on four MPTs; the same
four they indicated they had the greatest confidence performing. However,
nursing students were not trained on these MPTs at the local university,
indicating an apparent disconnect in training practices between the academic
institution and the workplace. Conclusions: It is suggested that a
participatory ergonomics training approach may help to provide student nurses
more opportunity to practice MPTs and help all nurses reduce work-related
musculoskeletal injury risk and increase job satisfaction. Increased training
time may also allow student nurses to gain greater mastery and confidence of
skills prior to full-time employment.
