ONS Connect - February 2008 - (Page 24) CarEgivErCarE Practice Good Body Mechanics for a Safe Working Environment [By Heather Blair, RN, MSN, ONS Research Associate] roper body mechanics are im portant to a healthy nursing career and should be used daily, re gardless of where you practice. Do ing so will prevent injuries to your self, patients, and coworkers. Be sure to maintain the four main principles of good body me chanics. • A stable center of gravity • A wide base of support • A line of gravity • Proper body alignment When lifting objects, use your leg muscles, keeping your knees and hips bent and back straight. Always lift objects upward in one smooth motion. When reaching, avoid twisting or stretching (use a stool for high objects) and main tain good balance. Finally, if pivot P ing when carrying an object, maintain a good center of gravity and turn both feet at the same time. When performing physical tasks, re member that it is always easier to push, pull, or roll an object than it is to lift it. All movements should be coordinated and smooth, rather than jerky. Use your arm and leg muscles instead of your back as much as possible. Keep objects close to your body and at a comfortable height. Finally, keep your body in good physical condition. Use of proper body mechanics can re duce excessive fatigue, muscle strains or tears, skeletal injuries, injury to patients, and injury to staff mem bers who may be assisting you. For more information, visit www.freeed .net/freeed/HealthCare/LessonMain .asp?cNum=1&iCode=fra0107. ✱ Topics Wanted for ONS Institutes of Learning in Seattle The Ninth Annual Institutes of Learning will be held in Seattle, WA, from November 14–16, 2008. The planning team has developed a conference platform, but we need you! ONS is looking for session coordinators to submit topics for the conference. Here’s how to come on board. 1. Develop a presentation topic with speakers, including objectives, content outline, goals, teaching strategies, main session highlights, and format for the presentation in approximately 200 words. 2. Confirm diverse speakers (e.g., 24 ONS CONNECT from different practice settings, patient populations, nursing roles, geographical areas) prior to submitting the topic. 3. Submit the topic. Once the planning team selects your topic, you will be asked to coordinate the session development (e.g., developing slides, meeting deadlines, communicating with planning team members). Don’t miss out on a great opportunity to submit your ideas. Topics are due by March 4. Visit www.ons .org or e-mail educationtopics@ons .org for more details. February 2008 http://www.free-ed.net/free-ed/HealthCare/LessonMain.asp?cNum=1&iCode=fra0107 http://www.free-ed.net/free-ed/HealthCare/LessonMain.asp?cNum=1&iCode=fra0107 http://www.free-ed.net/free-ed/HealthCare/LessonMain.asp?cNum=1&iCode=fra0107 http://www.ons.org http://www.ons.org
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