Making Safe Patient Handling and Mobility Training Effective. Part 1. What to Teach, Where and When to Teach It and How to Teach It

One of the biggest challenges in implementing a safe patient handling and mobility (SPHM) program is finding the time to provide the necessary education to staff on how to use the equipment and to follow up with their competencies. In order for training and education to be effective, it is important to identify exactly what needs to be taught, and then determine the where, when, and how to teach it. This article is the first of a 2-part series on SPHM training and competency assessment. It is particularly directed at those SPHM program leaders who are responsible for providing training to new and existing staff. It breaks down the 4 elements that underpin an effective SPHM training and education strategy, including identifying what needs to be taught, where it should be taught, when is the best time to teach it, and different ways to deliver the information. The second article will look at how to assess whether what you have taught has in fact been learned and whether it is changing the way care is delivered.

Monaghan HM

Keywords: safe patient handling, training, education