When & Why?
Assist residents in moving between surfaces while maintaining safety, independence, and comfort.
Before You Start
- Review care plan, weight-bearing status, and required assistance.
- Assess resident participation, balance, strength, and tolerance.
- Select appropriate equipment and request help as needed.
- Ensure proper footwear and a clear transfer path.
- Position equipment and lock brakes.
- Explain the transfer and agree on communication cues.
Steps
- Prepare the destination and required equipment.
- Position the resident safely, following mobility restrictions.
- Apply approved transfer equipment as indicated.
- Coordinate movement using clear instructions and a shared count.
- Assist the resident to the destination using the trained technique.
- Confirm safe positioning, comfort, and access to the call light.
Safety & Observations
- Watch for dizziness, weakness, pain, or poor balance.
- Never pull a resident by the arms or shoulders.
- Do not manually lift a resident who requires mechanical assistance.
- Stop if the resident cannot safely participate as expected.
- Follow the care plan for one-person versus two-person assistance.
What Should I Remember?
- Plan → Prepare → Communicate → Transfer → Reassess.
- Lock brakes before transferring.
- Encourage independence without compromising safety.
- Report changes in the assistance required.
Related
Practice
- Studied
- Observed
- Practiced
- Passed checkoff
Sources
- CNA Module 5 — Body Mechanics, Transfers & Ambulation
- OSHA — Safe Patient Handling
- FDA — Patient Lifts
- Facility safe-patient-handling policy and transfer competency checklist (verify at clinical site)
Flashcards
Why must transfer method follow the resident's care plan?03-application / clinical-skills
Answer
Required assistance and weight-bearing ability vary.
When should manual transfer attempts stop?03-application / clinical-skills
Answer
If the resident cannot participate safely as expected.