When transferring a patient with medical lines, which statement best describes safe practice?

• A. Both moving away from and toward lines and whether lines can come off
• B. Transfer safety depends on moving away
• C. Transfer safety depends on moving toward
• D. Transfer safety is unrelated to lines

Answer: (A)

When transferring a patient with medical lines, the key idea is to protect line integrity in every part of the move. Lines can be tugged, kinked, or dislodged whether you move toward the lines or away from them, so you must plan and execute the transfer with both directions in mind and verify that no connection can come loose. This means keeping lines secured to the patient or bed, ensuring there’s enough slack to prevent tension, avoiding pinch points, and coordinating with staff to maintain line patency and proper placement throughout the move. The choice that accounts for both directions and the potential for lines to come off reflects the full safety picture. Statements focusing on only one direction or claiming lines aren’t relevant miss the real risk of dislodgement or occlusion during transfer.