SELF/Perioperative Nursing/Patient Transfer/Psychomotor Skills Practice Instructions
Patient Transfer – Perioperative Nursing (ECSACONM)
[edit | edit source]Overview
[edit | edit source]This page provides a psychomotor skills practice guide for safe patient transfer onto the operating table, developed for perioperative nursing training under ECSACONM (East, Central and Southern Africa College of Nursing). It is intended as a self-directed developer worksheet, outlining the sequential steps, associated learning objectives ("good skills"), common errors, and practical guidance for coordinated, safe patient transfer.
This practice session develops the skills required to safely transfer a patient onto the operating table using coordinated teamwork, safe patient handling techniques, and effective communication. During practice, perform every step exactly as you would in the operating room, maintaining patient safety, dignity, anatomical alignment, and protection of all lines, drains, and monitoring equipment.
This exercise requires at least one assistant because patient transfer is a coordinated team activity. The assistant should perform the assistant actions described for each step while following the directions of the team leader. If additional personnel would normally be required for a particular transfer, simulate those roles as closely as possible.
A colleague may act as the patient for this exercise. The colleague should remain cooperative and follow instructions while allowing realistic practice of communication, positioning, transfer techniques, and protection of simulated lines and equipment. Practice all movements slowly and in a controlled manner. The goal is to develop safe habits, not to move the patient quickly or with unnecessary force.
NB: Although this is a practice exercise, treat every movement as though patient safety depends on it. If a simulated safety concern arises, stop the transfer, correct the problem, communicate with your assistant, and only continue when it is safe to do so.
Purpose
[edit | edit source]To guide nursing students and practitioners through a systematic, step-by-step process for safely transferring a patient onto the operating table, ensuring patient safety and dignity, anatomical alignment, protection of lines, drains, and monitoring equipment, safe body mechanics, and coordinated team communication throughout the transfer.
Psychomotor Skills Practice Instructions
[edit | edit source]| # | Step | Assistant Instructions | Instructions | Good Skills (Learning Objectives) | Common Errors | Guidance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gather supplies | Say aloud: "I have gathered and checked all required transfer equipment, confirmed it is functional, and ensured sufficient personnel are available before beginning the transfer." | ||||
| 2 | Assess patient readiness for transfer | Say aloud: "I have assessed the patient's mobility, cognition, pain, airway, breathing, circulation, attached devices, and transfer risks to determine the safest transfer plan." | ||||
| 3 | Select transfer method and team roles | Say aloud: "I selected the safest transfer method, assigned clear team roles, identified the team leader, and confirmed everyone understands the transfer plan." | ||||
| 4 | Prepare transfer environment | Say aloud: "I aligned the stretcher and operating table, locked the wheels, adjusted both surfaces to the correct height, removed hazards, and confirmed there is enough working space." | ||||
| 5 | Prepare patient and protect attachments | Helps expose only what is needed and gathers lines/drains. | Reassure patient, maintain privacy and warmth while organizing IV lines, drains, catheters, oxygen tubing, and monitoring cables. Place tubing and bags so they move freely without tension. | Protects all attachments and prepares patients without compromising safety or dignity. For example, ensures oxygen delivery and monitoring equipment remain functional throughout the transfer. | Lines tangled; drain bag left behind; oxygen tubing too short; patient exposed unnecessarily. | Trace each line from patient to source before the move. Nothing should pull when the patient shifts. |
| 6 | Position transfer aid under patient | Assists with log roll or gentle turn as directed. | Use safe body mechanics to roll or turn the patient slightly and place the slide sheet, pat slide, or transfer board under shoulders, trunk, hips, and thighs. Keep your back neutral and bend at hips/knees. | Positions transfer aid safely with minimal shearing and good support. | Aid not centered; patient twisted; skin dragged; staff pull from poor posture. | Move the patient just enough to place the aid. Avoid large rolls unless needed. |
| 7 | Align patient before movement | Supports head, shoulders, hips, or legs as assigned. | Align head, shoulders, spine, hips, knees, and feet before transfer. Support weak limbs and ensure no arm, leg, line, or sheet is trapped. | Maintains anatomical alignment before movement begins. | Head unsupported; limbs dangling; patient crooked; lines trapped under body. | Check from head to toe before countdown. Alignment before movement prevents injury during movement. |
| 8 | Transfer patient on command | Moves simultaneously with team on leader's count. | The leader gives a clear count. The team moves together using the slide sheet or transfer aid, keeping the patient close to the body and avoiding lifting when sliding is possible. | Performs smooth, coordinated transfer with safe body mechanics and patient protection. Uses closed-loop communication and responds only to the designated leader's command. | Jerky movement; no countdown; uneven pulling; patient slides unpredictably; line dislodgement. | Use one leader voice only. Move on the agreed word, not before. |
| 9 | Remove transfer aid if appropriate | Assists with gentle roll or lift to remove aid. | If the board or aid must be removed, gently roll or shift the patient while maintaining alignment. Remove the aid without dragging skin or disturbing lines. | Removes transfer aid safely without disturbing patient position. | Pulls aid roughly; causes shearing; shifts patient out of position; leaves lines trapped. | Remove slowly and reassess alignment immediately afterward. |
| 10 | Verify final patient position and comfort | Checks assigned side of patient and attached devices. | Check that the patient is centered, aligned, comfortable, and supported. Inspect pressure areas and confirm limbs are safely positioned. | Confirms final position, comfort, alignment, and pressure protection. | Patient left crooked; unsupported limb; pressure point unpadded; discomfort ignored. | Use a head-to-toe final position check before securing equipment. |
| 11 | Secure patient and equipment | - | Engage brakes, apply safety straps or side rails as appropriate, secure IV lines, drains, catheters, oxygen tubing, and monitoring cables. Confirm devices are functioning. | Secures patients and equipment safely after transfer. That is, verify monitoring devices and oxygen delivery systems are functioning correctly after transfer. | Brakes unlocked; straps too tight/loose; monitoring disconnected; lines under tension. | Recheck every attachment after securing. Lines should have slack but not drag. |
| 12 | Reassess patient after transfer | Say aloud: "After transfer I reassess patient comfort, alignment, airway, breathing, circulation, monitoring equipment, skin integrity, and all attached devices before continuing care." | ||||
| 13 | Communicate transfer completion and concerns | Say aloud: "The transfer is complete. I communicate the transfer method, patient tolerance, positioning requirements, mobility restrictions, attached device status, and any concerns to the receiving team." | ||||
References
[edit | edit source]
| Authors | Ian-laurel |
|---|---|
| License | CC-BY-SA-4.0 |
| Organizations | SELF, ECSACONM |
| Cite as | Ian-laurel-1 (2026). "SELF/Perioperative Nursing/Patient Transfer/Psychomotor Skills Practice Instructions". Appropedia. Retrieved July 30, 2026. |