Name
Competency Statement: Manoeuvring an In-Patient with a Spinal or Suspected Spinal Injury.
Competency Indicators
st
1 Level
Achieved
Assessor
signature
Competency Indicators
2nd Level
Competently participate
as part of the
manoeuvring team;


To turn (Log roll)
To lateral transfer
For a patient with a spinal
or suspected spinal
injury:





Describe the aims of
correct manoeuvring
and positioning of
spinal injured patient.
Describe how spinal
alignment will be
maintained whilst
manoeuvring the
patient.
Discuss, with specific
reasons, the
requirements of a
spinal injured patient
with regards to:
Bed
Mattress
Environment.
19/06/2007 proforma –Competency template- v 2 /DJK
Achieved
Assessor
signature
Competency Indicators
3rd level
All of Level 1, plus
Be aware of appropriate
handling requirements
for a patient with a
spinal or suspected
spinal injury:-
All of Level 1&2, plus
To lead appropriate
handling requirements
for a patient with a
spinal or suspected
spinal injury:-









Handling,
Positioning
Turning
Lateral transfer
In accordance to nature
and level of spinal injury
for all of the below:-.



Describe basic
anatomy and
physiology of the
vertebrae, spinal
nerves and spinal
cord.
Describe a stable
and unstable
fracture of the spine
Demonstrate
awareness to check
if neck clearance
has been
documented in
medical notes
Handling,
Positioning
Turning
Lateral transfer
Transferring for
investigations or to
other unit
Achieved
Assessor
signature
Competency Indicators
4th level
All of Level 1&2&3 plus
To lead in the continued
development of handling
requirements for a
patient with a spinal or
suspected spinal
injury:

In accordance to nature
and level of spinal injury
for all of the below:-

Be able to undertake the
role of team leader by
ensuring the following:-


To understand
implications of spinal
injury and ensure
correct techniques
are employed and
care plan instigated
and maintained in
accordance to
patient need.
Demonstrate
troubleshooting
knowledge to include
other possible
injuries
Manage and lead
assessment process,
instigate more indepth investigations
Demonstrate indepth knowledge of
spinal anatomy and
physiology
Utilise expert
judgement to
facilitate timely
referrals to specialist
practitioners or
critical care to
improve patient
outcome
Form AC2
Achieved
Assessor
signature
Name









Be aware of your role
& responsibility within
the manoeuvring team
in relation to correct:-

Positioning within the
team
Placing hands
correctly on patients
body in order to
support the
manoeuvre

Be aware of the need
to listen & follow
instructions from team
lead throughout the
manoeuvre.
Awareness for
additional person in
manoeuvring team on
opposite side of bed
to:-



Check Skin
Maintain hygiene
needs
Check all potential
pressure areas for
signs of redness or
skin damage
Underlying sheet is
smooth & free from
any particles of debris.
19/06/2007 proforma –Competency template- v 2 /DJK

Describe how to
Triple immobilise
patient as required in
relation to level of
spinal injury
Demonstrate
awareness to check
for any manoeuvring
restrictions as per
medical notes.
Describe the
requirements of
head holding & log
rolling with regard to
level of spinal injury
& taking into account
other injuries. .
Assess requirements
& plan for frequency
of moves, with
regard to patients
skin care and
elimination needs
Demonstrate ability
to explain
manoeuvring
procedure to patient
and team
Be aware of
responsibility that
patient and team
understand
manoeuvre
requirements prior to
initiating move.






Ensure team /
patient understands
their requirements
within a specified
spinal manoeuvre.
Be able to head hold
for manoeuvres and
lateral transfers.
Demonstrate
continuous
monitoring
throughout the
manoeuvre to
ensure patient’s
alignment is
maintained.
Be able to lead the
team to ensure all
practitioners within
team & patient are
ready before
commencing the
manoeuvre and
demonstrate clear
instructions of
‘Ready, set, move’ to
coordinate each
stage of the
manoeuvre
Refer to healthcare
professional,
recognising personal
and professional
limitations
Demonstrate
assessment
including sensory
and motor function,
at beginning and end
of a manoeuvre &

Act as an expert
resource advising,
teaching and
supporting ,members
of health care team,
patients and
relatives
As required

Lead and contribute
to the Trust Falls
policy, whilst
managing a patient
that has fallen, as an
inpatient, and has
sustained a
suspected spinal
injury.
Form AC2
Name

As required

Work within the Trust
Falls policy, whilst
managing a patient
that has fallen, as an
inpatient, and has
sustained a suspected
spinal injury.
Be aware of
responsibility to
leave patient post
manoeuvre ensure
spinal alignment,
dependant on
patient drinking tube
/ call bell to hand.
Feet positioned.


If applicable,


Demonstrate collar
care and teach
patient
Be aware of
responsibility to
check correct
positioning of
cervical collar (if
insitu) and neck is
supported in neutral
position

If applicable

As required

19/06/2007 proforma –Competency template- v 2 /DJK
Initiate the Trust
Falls policy, whilst
managing a patient
that has fallen, as an
inpatient, and has
sustained a
suspected spinal
injury.
document.
Lead in lateral
transfer as required
for MRI, CT
scanning ensuring
spinal alignment is
maintained
Demonstrate
continued
assessment of spinal
injured patient in
relation to moving
and handling
requirements.
Ensure to refer to
medical notes or
request further
advice for
confirmation of
spinal manoeuvre

Correctly measure
and fit cervical collar
as required by
patient
Teach Cervical collar
care to members of
Health care team
As required
Lead within the Trust
Falls policy, whilst
managing a patient that
has fallen, as an
inpatient, and has a
suspected spinal injury.
Form AC2
Name
Education resources to support your development
Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust
Consent Policy.
Portsmouth Hospital Patient
Handling Policy.
PHT Falls Policy for the nursing
and Midwifery assessment and
management of adults who are
in-patients and are at risk of
falling or who have already fallenappendix 3
Level 1
In-house training updates.
The Royal Marsden hospital
Manual of Clinical Nurse
Procedures (8th Ed.) pages 313325. Moving and positioning of
the patient with spinal
compression.
Level 1 and 2
Level 1,2 and 3
Acute management of spinal cord
injury: The Duke of Cornwall
spinal Treatment Centre,
Salisbury.
Bowel Care for patients with a
Spinal cord Injury: The Duke of
Cornwall spinal Treatment
Centre, Salisbury.
In-house Training as per
competency.
Author: Ross Sherrington and Jo sawyer
Department: MSK
Review Date: June 2015
Record of Achievement.
To verify competence please ensure that you have the appropriate level signed as a record of your achievement in the boxes below either by the educator/ trainer if
attendance on study session and or the workplace assessor when performed in practice.
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
Date:
Signature of Educator or/Trainer
Date:
Signature of Educator/ Trainer
Date:
Signature of Educator/ Trainer
Date:
Signature of Educator/ Trainer
Signature of Workplace Assessor
Signature of Workplace Assessor
Signature of Workplace Assessor
Signature of Workplace Assessor
References to Support Competency
1
Grundy,D., Swain, A. (2002) Management of Spinal Cord Injury.
2
Kneale, J,. Davis, P.(2005) Orthopaedics and Trauma Nursing (2nd Ed),Churchill Livingstone
3
Maher, A., Salmond SW, Pellino A., (2003) Orthopaedic Nursing (3rd Ed) WB Saunders Company
4
NMC.(2008) Code of Professional Conduct. London: NMC.
5
Royal Marsden Hospital. (2011) Manual of Clinical Nursing Procedures Mallet, J and Dougherty, L (8th Ed) Blackwell PP 313-325
6
Harrison,P. (2007) Managing spinal Cord Injury: The first 48 Hours. Milton Keynes, Spinal Injuries Association.
7
SIA (2000) Managing spinal injury: Critical Care. WWW.spinal .co.uk/pdf/SIA%20Critical%20care.pdf
19/06/2007 proforma –Competency template- v 2 /DJK
Form AC2
Name
19/06/2007 proforma –Competency template- v 2 /DJK
Form AC2