Manual patient transfers used most often by student and staff
nurses are consistent with their perceptions of transfer training, and
performance confidence
Affiliations: Department of Kinesiology, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON, Canada
Note: [] Corresponding author: Paula Marguerite van Wyk, Department of Kinesiology, University of Windsor, Human Kinetics Building, Rm 123, Windsor, ON, N9B 3P4, Canada. Tel.: +1 519 253 3000 ext: 4287; E-mail: pvanwyk@uwindsor.ca
Abstract: BACKGROUND: A disconnect in manual patient transfer (MPT)
training practices for nurses, between what is taught and used in academic and
clinical settings, could have implications for injury. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine: 1. what MPTs student and staff nurses use in clinical
settings, and 2. if the MPTs used most often were also the ones they perceived
that they received training for and had the most confidence performing. METHODS: Survey responses from student nurses (n=163) (mid-sized
university) and staff nurses (n=33) (local hospital) regarding 19 MPTs were
analyzed to determine which transfers were perceived to be used most often, and
which ones they had received training for and had the greatest confidence
performing. RESULTS: The MPTs nurses perceived using most often were the
same transfers they had the greatest confidence performing and for which they
perceived receiving training. However, these MPTs were not taught at the
university at the time of this investigation. CONCLUSION: Reducing the
disconnect between manual patient transfer training obtained in the academic
and clinical environments will hopefully reduce the risk of injury for nurses
and improve the quality of care for patients.
