REFLECTION

For attending the first placement of my Masters in Nursing Practice, there

were mandatory activities to be done which were achieving certificates of
Hand hygiene, Manual handling, Basic life support and med safe. The
completion of these online courses enhances the knowledge level which will
therefore facilitates in carrying out effective clinical placement.
As a part of my clinical placement, I was posted in Batlow Adelong MPS (Aged
Care). Since it was my first exposure to Australian health care setting, I was
nervous and excited at the same time. I was nervous regarding the legal and
ethical issues of Australian health care setting whereas excited to implement
my learning in practice. The first day of my placement just went by orientation
of the multipurpose setting and the case study of the residents. But from the
second day onwards, I came across the manual handling of the residents,
importance of hand hygiene and proper medication administration. Since, I
had completed my certification on those areas, it made me much easier to
carry out nursing practices and work more efficiently.
Description
As the days passes by, I became more familiar with the rules and regulation of
this health facility as well as the duties and responsibilities of a nurse. One day
during my placement, I along with the RN was lifting the fully dependent
resident from bed to the chair since she had her hip surgery few months back.
We were using the full hoist to transfer the resident from bed to the chair. I
was familiar with the Manual handling devices as I have completed my manual
handling online course. Back then when we practiced, it was easy but in a real
life scenario, we have to consider many more things regarding proper
positioning and handling of devices. Though I have the knowledge on manual
handling technique, I haven’t used it in a real life situation. I was confident
enough to assist RN to help the resident transfer to the chair. I got an
opportunity to implement my knowledge in practices in real life scenario. But
on the other hand, I was not sure if I was performing the task as it has to be.
We managed to transfer resident from bed to the chair. Resident looked
comfortable. We left the room and washed our hand. I was kind of nervous to
know from the RN if I did manual handling well or not. But her gestures made
me feel that I did well.
Feelings
Since it was my first experience in an Australian health care setting, I was little
nervous. When the RN told me to help her in lifting the resident, I was
confident as I have seen those manual handling devices and was familiar with
the importance and necessity of using it. The online course of manual handling
helped me to gain a confidence in using the manual handling device though it
was my first time experience implementing it in a real life scenario. Similarly,
the RN was explaining me why and how to do it. The nurse explained me the
importance of no lift policy as it may result in chronic pain and permanent
disability. This made me more clear about how important it is to use manual
handling devices as it plays a significant role in both the nurse and resident
aspects. This practice made me even more confident in using the manual
handling devices. Even though we had a manual handling session in our
University but I felt cent percent confident after lifting the real patients. But
exposure to those devices before our actual placement made me familiarise
with the devices and prevent me from wondering about the devices. Even
though those devices are different but I felt comfortable as they are similar to
function.
Evaluation
I gained a good experience from implementing the knowledge in a real life
situation. This helped me to enhance my knowledge level. This helped me to
perform practices more efficiently. I had a general knowledge on manual
handling devices from the online course but from my practical experience, I
came to know about the good communication skills needed while interacting
the resident as communication is very important while lifting the resident.
Likewise, explaining the resident what we are doing and counting 1 2 3 and
lifting the resident makes them feel safe. Beside these, I learned that we
should consider many other things like the proper positioning of the sling,
checking of the battery if it is in working condition or not. Practicing in a real
life scenario intensified the level of confidence and facilitated me to work
diligently.
Since RN can easily read my level of anxiousness in my face she called me in
the station and told me that I did well while I was helping her to lift the
patient. Apart from that she insisted me not to risk myself as well as the
patient. Her comments eased me and made me feel more confident. Now I can
do manual handling without any dilemma on my mind as I got well familiar
with lifting techniques.

Analysis
Kozier and Erb (2014, p.772) states that manual handling is not only just lifting,
transporting or transferring the residents but also includes all those physical
activities that is related to person centred care having risk of causing physical
injury. Because of these devices it had made all the health care personnel as
well as the patient’s life easy. Having access of these devices doesn’t mean
that we have to use this unnecessarily, for instance in case of one staff assist
patients we have to encourage them to do by themselves and we have to
support them. But if they are not being able to do so we have to use the
devices after getting approval from RN.

Conclusion
In a multipurpose health care setting, we can find different residents with
different condition and for this we have to use the manual handling devices
accordingly. I realise that the manual handling devices helps the nurses to
transfer, lift or mobilise the residents using the minimal force.
Also, I understand that we should make the proper use of the manual handling
devices like Sara steady, manual handling hoist in order to lift and transfer the
resident which will therefore ensure the safety of a resident as well as of
nurse.
Action Plan
In future, I will be familiar with different types of manual handling equipment
and its uses. Then, whenever the situation of lifting the resident comes up, I
will ensure the safety of the resident first and make the proper use of lifting
devices rather than using the force to lift them up. I will make sure none of us
are in risk.
References
Kozier, B., Erb, G. L., Berman, A., Snyder, S., Levett-Jones, T., & Dwyer, T.
(2014). Kozier and erb's fundamentals of nursing volumes 1-3 australian
edition. Retrieved from https://ebookcentral-proquest-
com.ezproxy.une.edu.au