Question

A nurse is lifting a bedside cabinet to move it closer to a client who is sitting in a chair. To prevent self injury, which of the following actions should the nurse take when lifting this object?

1) Bend at the waist and lift with the back muscles
2) Keep the back straight and bend the knees
3) Lift the object with one hand
4) Use a twisting motion while lifting

Answer 1

To avoid self-injury when lifting, the nurse should keep the back straight and bend at the knees, utilizing leg muscles instead of the weaker spine.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse should prevent self-injury while lifting the bedside cabinet by keeping her back straight and bending the knees. This leverages the leg muscles, which are more robust and better suited for lifting, as opposed to the spine which is relatively weak. Lifting with the back can apply excessive force on the spine, potentially causing injury. Therefore, the correct action to take when lifting to prevent self-injury is to keep the back straight and bend at the knees.