What ANA is Doing to Promote SPH
Research, technology and legislation are changing the way healthcare facilities approach various aspects of workplace safety. Nurses require a safe work environment which includes moving patients without the risk of musculoskeletal disorder injuries which can lead to days away from work, burnout, nurse turnover and early retirement from nursing. It is becoming increasingly vital from both a legislative and workforce satisfaction point of view to implement safe patient handling programs in these facilities and to showcase the benefits of these programs to the nursing staff and local nursing and health care community.
ANA supports promotion of safe patient handling on both the state and federal level. Currently ANA is developing national interdisciplinary safe patient handling standards due out in October 2012 for public comment.
See below for additional ANA work and resources.
Resources
- Federal Legislation
- Find out about proposed bills supporting safe patient handling programs and methods that would help improve patient safety and protect health care workers from career-ending injuries.
- State Legislation on Safe Patient Handling
- Learn about current efforts and recent successes by state legislations at passing safe patient handling laws.
- Telling Nurses' Stories
- ANA Handling with Care Brochure [pdf]