Unicare Health prepares occupational therapy undergraduates for work placement by teaching them how to use manual handling equipment
Manual Handling Equipment Training
Edith Cowan University, Joondalup
Friday, 11 August 2023
We were told that one of the best things about studying Occupational Therapy (OT) at Edith Cowan University (ECU) is the ability to begin professional experiences during the course of study.
OT students at ECU gain valuable learning experiences through caring for persons with varied needs across a range of healthcare settings.
Fieldwork placement opportunities are available throughout the four-year program. Find out more about the Bachelor of Science (Occupational Therapy) course at Edith Cowan University.
An aged care work experience placement gives many occupational therapy undergraduates their first taste of what it’s like to work in a residential aged care setting. They’ll be excited, if not nervous, and not knowing what to expect on the first day only adds to their uncertainties.
This series of manual handling equipment labs, facilitated by Unicare Health’s training team, was delivered to empower students with the knowledge, skills, and competencies to feel confident and make the most of their aged care work placements.
Annette Terranova, Clinical Educator and Trainer at Unicare Health, introduced students to a range of manual handling equipment commonly used in nursing care environments.
She taught students to appreciate the clinical benefits and significance of using slide sheets, transfer boards, standing hoists, lifting hoists, slings, transfer belts, and other equipment to facilitate safe resident transfers.
Standing hoists like the Oxford Journey and Ansa Salsa are designed for residents with some weight-bearing capacity.
Standing hoists assist individuals in moving from a sitting to a standing position. These hoists help to encourage mobility and independence.
Lifting hoists, such as the Ansa Sonata and Ansa Alto, are intended to transfer residents with limited mobility from one location to another, such as from bed to wheelchair.
Annette demonstrated the features of each hoist and discussed their suitability for elderly residents with different needs.
She discussed the different types of yokes and pivot frames as well as powered options, and how these contributed to a different transfer experience for everyone involved in the process.
Students were taught how to read embroidered safety labels on slings, how to measure a client for a sling, and how to conduct periodic inspections of slings.
They also learned how to attach the right slings to the right hoists.
Students were assigned manual handling tasks to help them build confidence in using various types of equipment.
Every student had the opportunity to take on the roles of an occupational therapist and a resident in order to fully understand how these pieces of equipment provide a safe transfer solution.
Annette provided many practical and safety recommendations and taught students essential skills such as how to get a sling under a client and how to reduce the risk of skin tears when hoisting an elderly person.
Thank you
“As a leading equipment supplier to aged care providers, we unicare about helping occupational therapy undergraduates develop necessary skills and competencies to make the most of their aged care work placements.” – Annette Terranova, Clinical Educator and Trainer, Unicare Health.
Unicare Health would like to wish every student a successful time in your aged care work placements and trust that you will find these manual handling & safety skills valuable in your professional development.
As the preferred equipment provider to Occupational Therapists and major Residential Aged Care Providers, we are proud of our collaborative role in developing competent OTs through clinical education and practical experience.
We are thrilled to hear how valuable our training sessions have been through the years and grateful to ECU for the ongoing partnership.
