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Introduction to the Safe Patient Handling and Movement Series
Author(s) -
Ogg Mary J.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
aorn journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.222
H-Index - 43
eISSN - 1878-0369
pISSN - 0001-2092
DOI - 10.1016/j.aorn.2010.12.004
Subject(s) - perioperative nursing , task (project management) , perioperative , work (physics) , task force , patient safety , medicine , medical emergency , nursing , health care , engineering , surgery , mechanical engineering , political science , systems engineering , public administration , law
Abstract Musculoskeletal injuries can occur when the physical work demanded by a job exceeds a worker's ability to respond safely. In perioperative nursing, and nursing in general, patient handling and movement demands commonly lead to injury and are considered high‐risk activities. In 2005, the AORN Workplace Safety Task Force was charged with identifying high‐risk tasks performed in the perioperative area and developing evidence‐based solutions to help establish an ergonomically safe workplace. The work of the task force was incorporated into the “AORN guidance statement: Safe patient handling and movement in the perioperative setting,” which includes seven ergonomic tools to help determine best practices for safe movement and handling of patients, supplies, and equipment in the OR. Members of the AORN Perioperative Environment of Care Task Force have collaborated to author seven articles that help explain the rationale behind and use of these ergonomic tools. The articles will appear in the Journal beginning in this issue.