Nursing & Healthcare Programs

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

Using a Gait / Transfer Belt to Assist the Resident to Ambulate

Walking (aka, ambulating) helps residents maintain mobility and independence, and prevents complications. However, ambulation must be done safely so that the resident does not have a fall or injury. A gait or transfer belt, when properly used, can increase resident safety. Gait belts can vary between facilities, so make sure you know how to use the one in your facility.

Partial Bed Bath

Bathing is an important part of a patient’s health routine. A partial bed bath focuses on bathing sensitive areas that cause discomfort if not cleansed frequently, such as the face, hands, axillae, back, and perineum. Though patients receiving a bed bath are typically confined to the bed, some are able to wash themselves and should be encouraged to do so to promote independence.

Prone Position

Prone position is not used as commonly as other patient positions. This position allows for full extension of the hips and the knees and gives many bony prominences a break from continuous pressure. However, placing patients in prone position does not come without the risks of pressure ulcers.

Removing Personal Protective Equipment

It is important to follow the correct procedure while removing personal protective equipment to avoid contaminating your skin or clothing. The most common source of contamination in this process stems from improper removal of gloves. Gloves are often the most soiled piece of equipment. To avoid contaminating your skin or the other equipment worn, gloves should always be removed first. Then remove the goggles, gown, and mask, in that order.

Measuring and Recording Output from a Urinary Drainage Bag

Accurate measurement of urination (aka, the output portion of intake and output) allows medical personnel to assess kidney and bladder function. Changes in output quantity or quality can reflect health status changes including new-onset infection or renal injury.

Caring for a Patient’s Dentures

For patients with dentures, care of the dentures is just as important as brushing natural teeth. Good denture hygiene and fit helps prevent oral irritation and infection.