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You are serving as the preceptor for a newly graduated nurse. As you observe the new nurse for their application of body mechanics principles into client care, you observe that the nurse spreads her legs apart during a transfer with a client. What should you do?

  • A

    Advise the nurse that the legs must be close together for stability during lifting and transfers.

  • B

    Advise the nurse that the legs should be one in front of the other and not spread apart during a transfer.

  • C

    Validate the nurse’s competency in terms of the application of body mechanics principles during a transfer.

  • D

    Validate the nurse’s competency in terms of the application of ergonomics principles during a transfer.

Correct Response: C

You should validate the nurse’s competency in terms of the application of body mechanics principles during a transfer because the nurse had spread her legs apart during the transfer to provide a wide base of support, which is a basic principle of body mechanics and not ergonomics.

Simply defined ergonomics addresses correct bodily alignment such as the lumbar curve accommodation in an ergonomically designed chair; and body mechanics is the safe use of the body using the correct posture, bodily alignment, balance and bodily movements to safely bend, carry, lift and move objects and people.