The Body Mechanics module is designed according to the AES course framework, which includes four phases:
- Explore
- Learn & Practice
- Reflect
- Reinforce
Below you'll discover how AES can help you teach your students about body mechanics according to these four phases.
Phase 1: Explore
Activity: Patient Transfer Role Play
In this activity, students work in groups exploring how to properly transfer patients and communicate with them.
Phase 2: Learn & Practice
Unit 1: Safety Guidelines
In this unit, students will learn about: principles of body mechanics, including common causes of back injury, safety precautions for beds, wheelchairs, stretchers and transfer belts, and legal issues regarding safety equipment.
Lessons
1. Body Mechanics
2. Equipment Safety
3. Quiz
Unit 2: Moving Patients
In this unit, students will learn about: moving patients with and without a draw sheet, turning and logrolling patients, using the dangling position, and recognizing pressure ulcers and orthostatic hypotension.
Lessons
1. Pressure Ulcers
2. Moving Up In Bed
3. Turning and Logrolling
4. Dangling
5. Quiz
Unit 3: Positioning Patients
In this unit, students will learn about: guidelines for patient positioning as they place patients in supine, Fowler's, prone, Sim's, lateral, and chair positions using one-person and two-person methods.
Lessons
1. Basic Bed Positions
2. Chair Positioning
3. Quiz
Unit 4: Transferring Patients: Bed
In this unit, students will learn about: safety guidelines for transferring patients including using manual or mechanical lifts and transferring a patient from bed to wheelchair and from wheelchair to bed and from bed to stretcher and from stretcher to bed.
Lessons
1. Introduction to Transfers
2. Bed and Wheelchair Transfer
3. Bed and Stretcher Transfer
4. Quiz
Unit 5: Transferring Patients: Toilet and Vehicle
In this unit, students will learn about: safety guidelines for transfers between wheelchairs and toilets and wheelchairs and vehicles.
Lessons
1. Wheelchair and Toilet Transfer
2. Wheelchair and Vehicle Transfer
3. Quiz
Phase 3: Reflect
Activity: Reflection Questions and Discussion
In this activity, students will journal about apply principles of body mechanics, monitor and respond to a patient's condition and preventing pressure ulcers. A class discussion on these topics can follow.
Phase 4: Reinforce
Activity: Body Mechanics Jive
In this activity, students work in groups to write and perform a song that help remember at least five principles of body mechanics.
Activity: Patient Care Scenarios
In this activity, students practice procedures learned in the module using various scenarios -- sometimes in less-than-ideal circumstances.
Activity: Current Event
Students will review articles for information related to a topic in the module. Once an article is found, students complete a Current Event form.
