This is an interesting document which I have only just recently come across. Developed by Lynda Enos, RN, MS, COHN-S, CPE it gives quite a comprehensive analysis of where the American stance is regarding moving and handling or, as they prefer to say, Safe Patient Handling.

American nurses have to pick up the equivalent of three of these trucks with four passengers in each one every week. Hence the move towards safe patient handling programmes.

If you like to spice up your presentations or arguments with facts and figures, you will find plenty of these here. For instance, according to Lynda’s research, the rate of MSD’s is 7 times the national average for Nursing aides (HCAs) when all other occupations are taken into consideration. Or another “fact” is that American nurses pick up the equivalent of three F350 trucks every week with four passengers in each one. A further statistic quoted is that insurance premiums can drop by as much as 50% when a

Safe Patient Handling programme is adopted.

The 108 strong reference list makes this document a must see for anyone interested in researching SPH programmes.

http://hcergo.org/SPH%20Aug%2009%20Facts%20and%20References.pdf