SELF/Perioperative Nursing/Patient Transfer/Psychomotor Skills Practice Assessment

Assessment Rubric: Patient Transfer – Perioperative Nursing (ECSACONM)

Overview

This page provides a psychomotor assessment rubric for safe patient transfer onto the operating table, developed for perioperative nursing training under ECSACONM (East, Central and Southern Africa College of Nursing). It accompanies the corresponding psychomotor skills practice worksheet and is used to assess learner performance across each step.

Each step is assessed by one of two methods. Articulated steps are scored as either "Not done" (clinically unacceptable / not performed) or "Done" (excellent), with no intermediate levels. Observed steps are scored on a five-point scale, with performance anchors defined at level 1 (clinically unacceptable / not performed), level 3 (clinically acceptable / performed), and level 5 (excellent); levels 2 and 4 represent performance between the defined anchors. The Assistant column records the task expected of the assisting learner where applicable.

Assessment Rubric

#	Step Name	Assistant	Assessment Method	1 – Clinically Unacceptable / Not Performed	3 – Clinically Acceptable / Performed	5 – Excellent
1	Gather supplies	N/A	Articulated	Not done		Done
2	Assess patient readiness for transfer	N/A	Articulated	Not done		Done
3	Select transfer method and team roles	N/A	Articulated	Not done		Done
4	Prepare transfer environment	N/A	Observed	Needed equipment missing when transfer is initiated	Gurney brought to room, sheets, pillows, transfer board, transfer monitor and IV pole in place	All equipment set up for optimal access to patient and easy roll-in when needed
5	Prepare patient and protect attachments	N/A	Observed	Lines, drains, limbs, or equipment are left attached, unsecured, or un-transferred creating significant risk of injury or dislodgement	Patient attachments such as ecg leads, IV and urine bags are prepared appropriately with minor inefficiencies but no safety compromise.	All lines, drains, catheters, and limbs are systematically protected proactively, monitoring devices are safely disconnected and transferred to mobile monitor prior to transfer to provide uninterrupted monitoring.
6	Set up for Transfer	N/A	Observed	Gurney misaligned or very different height, too few people summoned for help	Gurney brought to bedside and aligned with bed, assistants line up in correct spots after some confusion	Bed heights fine-adjusted to match, assistants directed efficiently with no ambiguity on position
7	Position transfer aid under patient	Assists with log roll or gentle turn as directed	Observed	Patient logroll discoordinated, transfer aid poorly positioned, lines not protected, causing unsafe patient handling.	Transfer aid positioned correctly with acceptable roll technique, lines protected and patient safety maintained.	Transfer aid positioned smoothly, efficiently, and atraumatically with excellent alignment, full team awareness of all lines, and minimal patient disturbance.
8	Align patient before movement	Supports shoulders, hips, or legs as assigned	Observed	Patient significantly misaligned with receiving bed, limbs unsupported, or body positioned unsafely before transfer.	Patient shifted to be aligned with receiving bed appropriately with acceptable support of body and limbs.	Excellent anatomical alignment maintained with full support of head, limbs, and body position.
9	Transfer patient on command	Moves simultaneously with team on leader's count	Observed	Poor coordination, unsafe movement, excessive shearing, loss of control, line traction, exposure of patient, or risk of fall.	Transfer completed safely with coordinated movement and acceptable teamwork and no line or monitor disruption or breach of patient modesty.	Smooth, controlled, well-coordinated transfer with excellent communication and patient protection throughout.
10	Remove transfer aid if appropriate	Assists with gentle roll or lift to remove aid	Observed	Removes aid unsafely, causing patient movement, skin injury, or loss of positioning.	Removes transfer aid safely with minimal disturbance to patient position.	Transfer aid removed smoothly and efficiently while maintaining excellent patient alignment and comfort.
11	Reassess Patient and Verify position and comfort	N/A	Observed	Fails to identify poor positioning, reattach monitors or re-hang IVs.	Confirms positioning and function of monitoring and lines with no major omissions. Assesses patient status after transfer.	Performs comprehensive positioning assessment and optimizes comfort, alignment, monitors and pressure protection for patient.
12	Secure patient and equipment	N/A	Observed	Safety devices, brakes, lines, or equipment remain unsecured creating patient risk.	Patient and equipment secured appropriately with acceptable safety checks, bed rails raised.	Thorough safety verification completed with all equipment secured and the patient fully protected.
13	Transport and hand off patient	N/A	Articulated	Omitted	Indicates that the patient will be transferred and information about status communicated to the next team

References

Page data
Keywords	surgery, health
SDG	SDG03 Good health and well-being
Authors	Ian-laurel, KatKor, Ian-laurel-1
License	CC-BY-SA-4.0
Organizations	SELF, ECSACONM
Language	English (en)
Related	0 subpages, 1 pages link here
Views	8 page views (analytics)
Created	July 29, 2026 by Ian-laurel-1
Last edit	August 14, 2026 by GSTC
Cite as	Ian-laurel-1 (2026). "SELF/Perioperative Nursing/Patient Transfer/Psychomotor Skills Practice Assessment". Appropedia. Retrieved August 19, 2026.
API queries	basic, semantic, html, files, more