Safe Patient Handling and Musculosketal Disorders
Introduction
Hospitals have high rates of non-fatal occupational injuries and illnesses.
Benefits of safe patient handling - ANA Video
Musculoskeletal disorders or MSDs are the leading cause of work-related health problems in the healthcare sector. The healthcare and social assistance industry had 56,360 MSD cases in 2018. In 2016, RNs in the private industry experienced 8,730 days-away-from-work cases classified as MSDs. These MSDs occurred at an incidence rate of 46.0 cases per 10,000 full-time workers, significantly greater than the rate for all occupations (29.4 cases per 10,000 workers).
Many MSDs in the healthcare field are due in large part to overexertion related to repeated manual patient handling activities, often involving heavy manual lifting associated with transferring, and repositioning patients and working in awkward postures.
Sprains and strains are the most often reported injuries, and the shoulders and lower back are the most affected body parts.
Here are some interesting statistics regarding back pain from the American Nurses Association:
- 52% of nurses complain of chronic back pain.
- 12% leave nursing because of back pain.
- 20% transfer to different units because of back pain.
- Back pain is the leading cause of disability in those less than 45 years old.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
1-1. Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in the healthcare field are due in large part to _____.
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