Continuing Nursing Education
Safe Patient Handling and
Movement in a Pediatric
Setting
Kathleen Motacki and Lisa Marie Motacki
Although evidence-based practice exists to apply the principles of safe patient handling and movement
(SPHM) to prevent nursing musculoskeletal injuries in the workplace, nurses and nursing staff continue to
use “body mechanics” when moving, lifting, and transferring patients. In this day of a nursing shortage, one
that will continue to worsen, valued professionals must remain on the job and free from preventable, workrelated
injuries. As states enact laws requiring health care facilities to develop and institute SPHM programs,
hospitals will be held to task to produce SPHM policies, procedures, plans, and protocols in their
institutions.
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