TRANSFER OF A PATIENT

DEFINITION:
Assisting patient to a chair from
the bed.

PURPOSES:
To enable change of position without
injury.
To maintain good body mechanics.
 PROCEDURE
NURSING ACTION RATIONALE
1. Explain the procedure to  Reduce anxiety and
patient and instruct him on promotes patient’s
how he has to co-operate. participation.

2. Assist the patient to  Positioning the patient in

sitting position on the side sitting and helps in
of the bed. Position a starting transfer.
chair at 45 degree angle
to the bed or parallel with
the bed.

 Ensures a wider base of

3. Spread your feet apart. support.
4. Flex your knees and hip  Lowers center of gravity
on line with patient’s to the object to be
knees. raised.

5. Reach under the axilla of  Reduces pressure on

patient and place hands axilla.
on scapula.

6. Help patient up to a
standing position on
count of three while
straightening your hips
and knees.

7. Pivot on foot that is  Maintains support of

farthest from the chair. patient which allowing
adequate space for
patient to move.
 BETWEEN A BED AND A
STRETCHER
DEFINITION:
Shifting a helpless patient from bed to
stretcher or from stretcher to bed.

PURPOSES:
To transfer patient safely.
 PROCEDURE
NURSING ACTION RATIONALE
Three person to carry the
patient.
1. Explain procedure to  Helps in obtaining patient’s
patient and how he has to participation.
co-operate.

2. Adjust the patient’s bed  Facilitate easy transfer

for transfer.
a. Adjust the bed to be in
flat position.
b. raise the bed / stretcher
from where the patient is
to be transferred to a
slightly higher level.
c. Ensure that the wheel of the bed ad  Avoid accidental
stretcher are locked. moving of bed or
stretcher during
procedure.
d. Untuck the draw sheet out from
both sides of the bed.

3. Move patient to the edge of the bed

and position the stretcher.

a. Roll draw sheet to the patient’s

side.

b. Position the patient to the edge of

the bed and cover patient with a
sheet.
c. Place the stretcher parallel to the
bed next to the patients and lock
its wheel.
4. Position yourself for the transfer.
a. The first nurse should reach over
the stretcher.

a. The other two nurses should reach

over the stretcher holding the draw
sheet, one nurse at the head and
neck and the other nurse supporting
at the waist and thigh area.

5. Transfer the patient securely to the

stretcher.

a. In unison with the other staff  Prevent the

members, press your body tightly stretcher
against the stretcher. from moving.
b. Roll the pull sheet tightly against Achieve better
the patient. control over
patient movement.
c. Instruct the patient to flex his Prevents injury to
neck and head during the move if his body parts.
possible. Place his arms across
the chest.

d. Flex your hips, and pull the

patient on the pull sheet in unison
directly towards and on the
stretcher.

6. Make the patient comfortable,

unlock the stretcher wheels and
move the stretcher away from
the bed.
7. Raise the stretcher side rails.
Avoid dangers of
patient falling out
of stretcher.