Transfer Belt Application Safety Protocol

During a patient assessment, the nurse is observing a 70-year-old patient who is at risk for complications related to mobility. The patient was recently hospitalized for pneumonia and has been on bed rest for several days. The nurse notes that the patient demonstrates limited ability to transfer independently from the bed to a chair. To promote safety and mobility, the nurse decides to assist the patient using a transfer belt. To correctly apply the transfer belt, the nurse must place the belt around the patient's waist and ensure that there is adequate _____. This is essential to prevent injury to both the patient and the nurse during the transfer.