Nursing schools face a host of challenges in today’s health-care environment. However, the biggest challenge is, without a doubt, preparing students to save lives. Embarking on a nursing career can be a steep learning curve. There is a lot to learn, from how to handle patients to how to carry out a range of procedures. A particularly tricky element of training involves learning how to use the equipment that students will encounter during practice. From electric lifts to bath transfer systems, students must use all specialized equipment in the correct way. After all, the safety of patients is at risk.
Using Equipment in the Field
Nursing schools are responsible for not only teaching nursing theory but also practical skills. Nursing is a very hands-on profession. Students must learn how to perform a host of procedures safely, from taking temperatures and blood pressures to giving injections. Nursing students must also learn how to move patients with limited mobility.
Patients with Mobility Issues
Many patients going through the health-care system suffer from a host of mobility problems. They struggle to walk, go to the bathroom by themselves, shower or bathe. It is part of a nurse’s responsibility to help them with these tasks. They can achieve this by using the latest hospital equipment designed to improve patients’ lives.
While this cutting-edge equipment is essential and highly beneficial for patients, it can be complex to use. This means that nursing schools must prepare their students to use this equipment in the field. Trainee nurses must learn not only how to use the various pieces of equipment but must feel comfortable using it. It’s one thing to know how to operate an electric lift. However, the experience is very different when operating it with a patient. One of the major challenges facing nursing schools is providing student nurses with this practical experience. It can only be by practicing in a real-world health-care setting that students can familiarize themselves with standard equipment.
Using Patient Mobility Equipment
There are many types of patient lifts found in health-care settings today. From electric and manual lifts to heavy-duty models, nursing schools must prepare students to use them all. Bath safety equipment can be especially complex. Students must know how to help patients use a bath transfer bench and operate bath transfer systems. Even wheelchairs aren’t as simple as they might appear. Tilting, reclining, and standing wheelchairs all require specialist training to ensure safe operation.
We supply a range of high-quality training equipment to make the task of nursing schools a lot simpler. Here are just some of our recommended products:
1) ShowerBuddy
Showerbuddy is a unique system that eliminates one of the most backbreaking and stressful aspects of caregiving - shower time. This wheelchair a special ergonomically designed wheelchair with a built in a commode. The toilet docking frame (sold separately) fits around the base of most standard toilets and provides the Showerbuddy with a safe transfer from its standard base to the commode. Its brilliance lies in the simple and effortless transportation of the user straight into the restroom or shower unit.
2) Hoyer Professional Advance-E Portable Electric Patient Lift
The Hoyer Advance-E is compact, yet able to perform an outstanding range of transfers. Whether from the floor or onto a healthcare bed, the Advance-E Electric Lift copes with ease. The Advance E's unique tapered leg design allows the lift to get even closer to the widest of obstacles. This is especially useful when encountering large chairs, bulky commodes and wheelchairs. The tapered design also ensures that the resident feels safe and secure during the transfer. The Advance-E Patient Lift is compact, yet able to perform an outstanding range of transfers.
3) Ultra Lightweight S-Ergo 115 Wheelchair
The S-Shape Seating System offers many advantages over the standard manual wheelchair seat. Not only is pressure distributed more evenly across the legs and rear, it also offers a more stable seating surface and prevents forward slippage. The world’s first S-Shaped ergonomic seating developed specifically for comfort and ergonomics. With over 22 patents and launched as a Global Product, this unique product is capable of relieving pressure, reducing sliding and promoting good posture. All of our S-ERGO frames are CRASH TESTED. This challenge was met with Ultralight Weight, Ergonomics, Comfort, and Safety in mind and with an end product setting the bar for the highest of quality possible. Learn more optional cushions treated by AEIGIS® providing an anti-microbial coated seating system.
4) Poly-Fly
The Poly-Fly transport wheelchair from Drive Medical can be used as both a transport wheelchair and a standard wheelchair. With a push of the quick-release axles, the full-sized 24" wheels can easily be removed to transform the chair into a transport chair with 8" wheels.
5) BestStand SA500 Stand-Up Patient
The BestStand Series of sit-to-stand patient lifts provide a solution for patient transfers between bed, chair or commode. The BestStand Series of patient lifts reduces injury risk associated with antiquated manual patient lifting practices. Competitively priced and combined with a unique design, the BestStand Series of sit-to-stand patient lifts provide a new level of comfort and safety. The BestStand lift has set the standard for value for both residential and facility use.
