Smooth patient transfers: Part I

By Richard L. Pullen, Jr., RN, EdD

Transferring a patient from

P H OTO G U I D E
bed to stretcher
Keep patients safe
and protect yourself
from injury by
brushing up on
transfer techniques
shown in this
new series.
PHOTOS BY GARY DONNELLY

YOU PROBABLY HELP transfer patients every day and don’t 1. Lower the head of the bed so the
give it much thought. But you should. Performed incorrect- patient is flat (unless contraindicated or not
ly, these commonplace nursing actions can lead to back tolerated) and cover her with a sheet or
strain and other career-threatening injuries. In this Photo blanket for privacy and warmth. Explain the
Guide series, I’ll review safeguards and techniques for sever- procedure and assess her level of conscious-
al types of patient transfers, starting with a bed-to-stretcher ness, ability to understand and follow direc-
transfer. tions, and ability to assist with the transfer.
If a patient can’t move independently between a bed and Close her door or draw the curtains for priva-
stretcher, gather at least three nurses to perform the transfer. cy and perform hand hygiene. (Use personal
(Four or five nurses may be needed to safely transfer a protective equipment if indicated.)
patient who’s extremely debilitated or overweight; obese Raise the level of the bed so it’s slightly
patients require a hydraulic lifter.) Obtain a transfer board higher than the stretcher. Make sure the
(shown in these photos) or transfer sheet to reduce the risk brakes are locked on both the bed and
of injury to the patient or a nurse. Then follow these steps. stretcher.

Special thanks to the nursing staff at Doylestown Hospital in Doylestown, Pa., for assistance with these photos.

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2. Remove the pillow from the bed
and place it on the stretcher. Ask the
patient to roll away from the stretch-
er. (Help her turn, if necessary.) Then
place the sliding board over the gap
between the bed and stretcher, as
shown.

3. Help her return to a supine

position on the sliding board and ask
her to cross her arms on her chest.

4. Each nurse should assume a

broad base of support with one foot
in front of the other and knees and
hips flexed, keeping her body aligned
and her back straight. On the count of
three, the two nurses on the stretcher
side of the bed should gently pull the
sliding board toward themselves, as
shown.

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 5. Roll the patient to her side and
remove the sliding board.

6. Center her on the stretcher

with her body in alignment. Make
sure she’s comfortable and raise
the rails on the stretcher.

Perform hand hygiene. Document the procedure (including the transferring technique used, the
number of nurses involved, and the patient’s response) according to facility policy. ‹›

RESOURCES
Elkin MK, et al. Nursing Interventions and Clinical Skills, 4th Edition. Mosby Elsevier, 2007.
United States Department of Veterans Affairs. VA Sunshine Healthcare Network. Safe Patient Handling and Movement.
http://www.visn8.med.va.gov/patientsafetycenter/safePtHandling/default.asp. Accessed October 31, 2007.

Richard L. Pullen is professor of nursing and assistant director of the ADN program at Amarillo College in Amarillo, Tex., and a
member of the Nursing2008 editorial advisory board.

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