Researchers in India say nearly 90 percent of nurses across 21 different healthcare facilities in Mumbai and Thane complain of back pain and other muscloskeletal disorders, and nurses in the US may not be much better off.
Researchers at the Nirmala Niketan College of Home Science decided to interview nurses to see how the rigors of keeping others healthy impacts their own health. Nursing isn’t typically considered a physically demanding job, but when you consider how nurses often lift, roll, turn and transfer patients to administer services, you can see how their bodies can wear down.
About 89 percent of nurses surveyed complained of lower back pain or muscloskeletal pain stemming from overuse or misuse of a body part.
“While a majority complained of back pain, others complained of wrist and leg pain. Nurses have a physically demanding job, as they are expected to reposition patients which strain their body also,” said Roopa Rao, an Ergonomics specialist.
As we mentioned above, constant, forceful and repetitive lifting is going to take its toll on body tissues over time. Some hospitals provide nurses with lifting devices to aid in the movement of patients, but not all. The study went on to note that eight out of ten nurses said their pain hindered or interfered with their ability to preform their job duties.
Long Hours
Another issue that may contribute to back problems in nurses is the fact that they often work long hours. Sometimes nurses are called on to work 12-, 14-, 16- and even 18-hour shifts. These long hours take a toll on the body, even if limited lifting is involved. Rao added that the job constraints don’t always allow for regular scheduled breaks. Instead, nurses take their break when there is a lull in the action.
“They are also deprived of a planned break,” said Rao. “Most of their breaks are when there are no duties related to patients to be performed.”
We need to do a better job of taking care of own our. Nurses put so much time and effort into healing others that they may be hurting their own bodies. Nurses and other healthcare workers would benefit from more lifting devices and scheduled breaks, but it’s difficult given budget constraints and patient workload.
Related source: Hindostan Times