America's nurses are at increased risk for injury

Main Category: Public Health
Article Date: 06 Sep 2004 - 0:00 PDT

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Changes to the nation's health care system that have led to increased demand for skilled nursing care at the same time many hospitals and clinics have been forced to cut back their nursing staff are taking their toll on the country's nurses.

According to a study of more than 1,000 registered nurses, neck, shoulder and back injuries are on the rise, especially for those nurses who are expected to work longer shifts and provide more care to more patients than in the past.

Almost one-third of nurses surveyed had suffered a back injury in the previous year, 20 percent reported a neck injury and 17 percent reported a shoulder injury. Such injuries were almost four times as likely among nurses who reported working under six or more health system changes, such as being asked to care for sicker patients and working longer hours.

But the injuries could not all be attributed to increased physical job demands. Organizational changes have an impact independent of the effect of physical job demands. "Our finding that changes in health care services delivery compromises not only quality of care and patient safety but also nurses' health should provide further evidence of the need for a systematic approach to improving work conditions in the health care industry," the study's authors wrote.

From: "Health Care System Changes and Reported Musculoskeletal Disorders Among Registered Nurses." Contact: Jane Lipscomb, PhD, RN, UMB, SON, University of Maryland, Baltimore, School of Nursing,

American Journal of Public Health

The American Journal of Public Health is the monthly journal of the American Public Health Association, the oldest and largest organization of public health professionals in the world. APHA is a leading publisher of public health-related books and periodicals promoting high scientific standards, action programs and policy for good health. More information is available at http://www.apha.org.



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