Safe Patient Handling and Mobility (SPHM) is an inherent component of the modern healthcare system focused on reducing the danger of injuries for patients and caregivers associated with moving, lifting, and shifting patients. SPHM has risen to the scene as one of the top concerns whose implications are undoubtedly responsible for patient safety, caregivers, and healthcare efficiency. Despite the time since knowledge became widely known, many obstacles still need to be overcome regarding SPHM awareness for the best practices’ implementation (Ventura et al., 2021). These obstacles include a lack of orientation among healthcare professionals, traditional beliefs regarding the use of special equipment, gender roles in caregiving, as well as insufficient products such as lifting aids and support device supplies. Adopting multiple ways of overcoming these barriers requires participation in educational schemes, policy support, cultural shifts within healthcare organizations, and the efforts of professionals on the association level.
SPHM Ethics Chapter 9 is dedicated to the ethical dimensions of SPHM, bringing out such principles as non-maleficence, beneficence, and social justice, which are the core of ethical decision-making in this area. The principle of non-maleficence, which promotes not causing harm, is the basis for SPHM practices, which focus on preventing injuries and unwanted patient handling events (Naik et al., 2022). Following evidence-based practices, healthcare providers’ centre of attention can do well to reduce the probability of musculoskeletal injuries among patients and caregivers. Therefore, non-maleficence also applies to emotional distress and psychological well-being by highlighting the respect and security of the patient when the care is ongoing.
In addition to the duty to prevent harm, healthcare professionals need a moral obligation to encourage well-being among patients, their families, and fellow healthcare workers. Regarding SPHM, beneficence refers to treating the patients properly, thus ensuring the patients receive only the best quality of care that includes safe and dignified conduct. In addition, the term ‘beneficence’ encompasses caregivers close to the patient, and they are adequately supported and informed about the protocols at SPHM to allay their worries and enhance cooperation in care delivery (Pietilä et al., 2020). Additionally, beneficence involves the well-being of the healthcare workers; therefore, the latter should be provided with the necessary training, adequate equipment, and support systems to ensure that they will discharge their duties securely and with great competence.
Ethical considerations of advocacy for SPHM programs and practices are, to a great extent, united by common goals of preserving patients’ health, staff safety, and equal access to quality healthcare. Another ethical argument favouring SPHM advocacy concerns beneficence, which accepts that one must do good and take others’ welfare into consideration. As a rule, SPHM programs are designed to be protective and fall under the principle of beneficence by striving to eliminate patient injuries, caregiver injuries, and other complications, thus improving overall patient outcomes (Ventura et al., 2021). Through evidence-based SPHM, healthcare centres can emphasize their pledge towards ensuring safe and efficient care, which is imperative per the code of ethics to prioritize patients’ safety and well-being. Further, SPHM programs also add to the upholding of human integrity by encouraging the use of respectful and dignified patient handling techniques that respect the autonomy of each person and his or her intrinsic value. The non-maleficence principle is another ethical reason for the involvement of SPHM in the healthcare system, as it requires clinicians to do no harm or injury to patients. Unsafe patient pathways, e.g., manual lifting and the wrong transfer techniques, cause potential musculoskeletal injuries both for the patient and the caregiver, which might, in turn, deteriorate the patient’s safety and the already existing health conditions.
SPHM programs and safe patient handling behaviours can be promoted by healthcare professionals who uphold the principle of non-maleficence through the mitigation of risk of harm from unsafe patient handling practices and the use of evidence-based methods for better care delivery (Naik et al., 2022). Through health services working to facilitate staff safety and well-being, they are acting on the principle of fairness and ensuring that all care environments have equal and fair access to the resources needed for safe patient handling. Further, SPHM advocacy is significantly diminishing healthcare disparities by tackling the elevated rate of the healthcare workers’ disproportionate burden suffered in some settings, such as in long-term care facilities and acute care hospitals. By raising awareness of the SPHM programs and behaviours, healthcare professionals are equalizing society, and there is fairness, equity, and social responsibility in delivering healthcare services. In the end, the patient’s general outcomes are improved, and the quality of care is improved for all individuals.
As a nurse, I want to exercise ethical principles in SPHM by promoting evidence-based practices and sharing information about the correct procedures with both my patients and their families. Moreover, I can promote the provision of adequate equipment and resources to sustain safer patient handling. I can then fulfil my ethical obligations to protect patient safety and prevent physical harm to them. Through this active participation in advocacy, I will promote a culture of safe and ethical conduct in my healthcare organization, ultimately increasing the level of care for all patients and maintaining the healthcare professionals’ well-being.
This chapter is a detailed discussion of the ethical aspects of using the correct patient handling and mobility techniques. By incorporating non-maleficence, beneficence, and social justice principles that govern SPHM practice, healthcare professionals can deliver the highest standards of care and comply with the dignity and rights of patients, families, and caregivers. Considering SPHM programs and behaviours in advocacy is not only ethically correct but also vital since it contributes to the safety of patients, injury prevention, and the development of a culture of excellence in healthcare institutions. In the future, healthcare specialists shall continue to implement SPHM strategies, advocate for political change, and collaborate in numerous fields to ensure safer and more compassionate care for everyone. When maintained with this kind of commitment, ethical practices will allow the upholding of principles of beneficence, non-maleficence, and social justice in every interaction with patients, assuring the well-being and dignity of every patient.
Naik, N., Hameed, B. M., Shetty, D. K., Swain, D., Shah, M., Paul, R., … & Somani, B. K. (2022). Legal and ethical considerations in artificial intelligence in healthcare: Who takes responsibility? Frontiers in surgery, 9, 266.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsurg.2022.862322/full?gclid=Cj0KCQiAjbagBhD3ARIsANRrqEsSbEC-BHyiNltKKBRXm4CkJOwBot_U3M1rDu9zP0GaORA5bEfrypoaAtqFEALw_wcB
Pietilä, A. M., Nurmi, S. M., Halkoaho, A., & Kyngäs, H. (2020). Qualitative research: Ethical considerations. The application of content analysis in nursing science research, 49-69.https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-30199-6_6
Ventura, C. A. A., Austin, W., Carrara, B. S., & de Brito, E. S. (2021). Nursing care in mental health: Human rights and ethical issues. Nursing ethics, 28(4), 463-480.https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0969733020952102