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Assisting the Resident to Transfer from the Bed to a Chair or Wheelchair

Written by Hollie Finders, RN
Hollie Finders is a registered nurse with years of experience working in the health care field. She has degrees in both biochemistry and nursing. After working with patients of all ages, Hollie now specializes in pediatric intensive care nursing. Hollie’s LinkedIn

Procedure

Equipment needed: gait belt, non-skid footwear, and chair or wheelchair.

  1. Perform hand hygiene.
  2. Explain the procedure to the resident and ask for his or her assistance in following directions.
  3. Place a chair or wheelchair right next to the bed on the resident’s unaffected side. The chair should be at the head of the bed and facing the foot of the bed.
  4. Lock the wheels of the chair or wheelchair if applicable.
  5. Assist the resident in sitting on the side of the bed. Raise or lower the bed so the resident’s feet are flat on the floor. Apply non-skid footwear to the resident’s feet.
  6. If available, fasten a gait belt securely around the resident’s waist.
  7. Stand in front of the resident and assume a proper lifting position. Align your legs with the resident’s legs to prevent him or her from slipping.
  8. If using a gait belt, firmly grasp the belt on both sides of the resident. If no gait belt is available, wrap your arms around the resident’s torso, keeping his or her arms free.
  9. Ask the resident to stand while supporting his or her movement. You may instruct the resident to push off the bed to assist in standing.
  10. Instruct the resident to take small, slow steps toward the chair. Have the resident pivot so that the backs of his or her legs are touching the chair.
  11. Tell the resident to reach backward and grab the chair’s armrests. Then, gently lower the resident into the chair as he or she sits down.
  12. Ensure the resident’s bottom is all the way back in the chair. Align the resident’s body and support with pillows, if needed.
  13. Remove the gait belt.
  14. Attach footrests to the wheelchair if needed, or raise the footrest on the chair if desired.
  15. Transport the resident by wheelchair or place the call light within the resident’s reach.
  16. Perform hand hygiene.
  17. Document the procedure in the resident’s chart and report any changes in the resident’s condition to the nurse.

Important Information

It is important to remember on which side to place the chair when assisting a patient in transferring. Putting the chair on the resident’s unaffected side allows the resident to lead with his or her strong extremity. This eases the procedure for the resident and reduces the risk of falling [1].

A gait belt should always be used when available and appropriate for the resident’s condition. A gait belt is not used for lifting, but instead is used to help guide a resident’s movements [1]. Gait belts also give the health care worker something to hold onto while the resident transfers and can be used to help lower the resident to the floor if he or she begins to fall.

References

1. Guidelines for Nursing Homes

More Resources

Supine Position

Supine position is a natural and comfortable position for most people. For this reason, it is a highly utilized position for nursing procedures. Unfortunately, this position puts pressure on many bony prominences that can lead to discomfort and/or pressure ulcers if the pressure is not relieved every so often (typically every two hours or less).

Measuring the Radial Pulse

The radial artery, located in the wrist, is easy to feel and an efficient location to measure heart rate. Changes to the rhythm or strength of the radial pulse can indicate heart disease, damage to the arm, or body fluid status. It is important to remember to check the radial pulse on both sides as differences between left and right can indicate injury or disease processes.

Dressing and Undressing a Patient

Patients who have suffered a stroke or have weakness or injury to one side of their body may struggle with dressing and undressing. In order to help these patients regain their strength and independence, it is important that the nurse’s aide only assist them as needed. The nurse’s aide may need to teach patients how to dress and undress safely with their limitations.

Transferring the Resident from a Bed with a Mechanical Lift

A mechanical lift is used to transfer residents who cannot support their own weight. When used properly, mechanical lifts prevent injuries for both residents and health care workers. It is important that a nurse’s assistant be trained to use the mechanical lift before attempting to operate it. Most facilities require at least two health care workers to assist when using a mechanical lift.

Performing the Heimlich Maneuver

The Heimlich Maneuver, also known as abdominal thrusts, is used to remove an object that is blocking a resident’s airway and preventing air from reaching the lungs. It only takes four to six minutes for brain damage to occur from lack of oxygen, so prompt action is vital.

Moving the Resident to the Side of the Bed

Residents are usually kept in the center of the bed for safety reasons. However, moving a resident to the side of the bed is an important step to take before turning a resident onto his or her side. Performing this action allows the resident to end up side lying in the center of the bed and not smashed up against the side rail.

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