One By-Law, One Christian Science Nurse" applied to safer patient handling

I would like to delve more deeply into the subject of "safe patient handling legislation in the US" in the light of our theme of the conference:   " One By-Law, One Christian Science Nurse".

 

I have found some information about Federal legislation on "safe patient handling, mobility and injury prevention and their requirements" and also about State legislation in Hawaii, Texas, Washington, Rhode Island, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, Illinois, California, Missouri, Ohio, New York. These states have enacted safe patient handling laws or promulgated rules/regulations.

 

Christian Science nurses   are guided primarily by the Manual By-Law for the   Christian Science nurse   (Article Vlll Sect. 1, p. 49) which is very close to our heart. Therefore our "demonstrable knowledge of   Christian Science   practice" tells us, that   our reason and motive for implementing the new handling   techniques must be totally different from the general intention of minimizing the risk of injury. READ MORE...

We started by considering the definitions of "proper" and "care", discussing the need to have a 'proper' sense of care. This includes 'the provision of what is needed for the well-being or protection of a person' and 'serious attention, solicitude, ministration, guardianship', but does not include the concept of 'worry, anxiety, concern' etc.

We then considered the main definitions of the word " proper" and discussed the importance of ensuring that the care we provide is " adapted or appropriate to the purpose or circumstances; suitable" rather than focusing on the secondary meaning of "conforming to established standards of behavior or manners; correct."

While recognizing that the care we provide as Christian Science nurses does to a certain extent need to conform to established standards of behaviour, it is more important that the care is appropriate to the individual's needs and the available resources.

As a group, we discussed the characteristics of proper care and came up with a list including the following: being inspired, thorough, appropriate to the need, gentle, kind, not getting wrapped up in the material picture. Also being well prepared, efficient, organized, trusting to be led to do the right thing, loving, thoughtful, courteous to others, etc. READ MORE...

Introduction:

The last couple of years has seen an explosion of new products on the market, from personal care products to meal kits delivered to your home. And as Jutta talked about yesterday, there have been advances in lifting and mobility aids that put less physical strain on both the caregiver and the patient.There is no way we can touch on all of the new products available to us, but I hope to hit the highlights, and to really jumpstart our continued sharing. All the information covered in the next hour will be available to you digitally. So, don't get bogged down taking notes or frustrated because you can't write fast enough. We'll get the information to you. So, let's sit back and enjoy hearing about all the wonderful "temporary aids" available to us and the patient.