Critical aspects in nursing

Abstract

The severely obese patient with disabling conditions is a complex patient, whose nursing imposes higher loads for healthcare providers than assisting normal-weight patients. Four main critical aspects related to bariatric nursing arise: (a) the need for adequate figures of healthcare providers, (b) the concern for both the patient's and the provider's safety, (c) the lack of bariatric equipment, (d) the patient-professional relationship, both at personal and professional level. Being consistently present in the Unit and responsible for the patient's physical and psychological needs, the nurse represents the reference professional. The different levels of nursing interventions in bariatric patients and their critical aspects are described in the chapter. Caring for those patients implies higher biomechanical risks for the healthcare provider. Patients handling algorithms, the specific class of equipment with expanded capacity and the specific environmental considerations for hospitals admitting bariatric patients are discussed. The healthcare operators should be consistently educated and updated about biomechanics of movements and postures, and the use of technological aids. Being organizatively and culturally unprepared for admitting those patients aggravates the level of risk of injuries both for the healthcare provider and the patient.