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The nurse's workload in care situations.

M L Nuikka¹, M Paunonen, O Hänninen

¹Department of Nursing Science, University of Tampere, Iisalmi, Finland.

Journal of Advanced Nursing

|March 17, 2001

Summary

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Nurses experience significant physical workload during patient transport and primary care tasks, especially on morning/evening shifts. Good physical fitness can mitigate this nurse workload.

Area of Science:

Nursing Science
Occupational Health
Physiology

Background:

Understanding nurse workload is crucial for optimizing patient care and staff well-being.
Previous studies have focused on specific tasks, but a comprehensive analysis across different shifts and care situations is needed.

Purpose of the Study:

To quantify the physical workload experienced by nurses in various care situations and across different work shifts (morning, evening).
To investigate the physiological responses (heart rate, muscle tension, perceived exertion) associated with these nursing tasks.

Main Methods:

Nurses' physical workload was assessed by measuring heart rate, shoulder-neck muscle tension, and perceived exertion during distinct care situations.
Nurses' physical fitness was evaluated using a clinical exercise test.

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Main Results:

Patient transportation to the operating theatre represented the most strenuous situation on morning and evening shifts.
Primary care and practical nursing procedures were identified as the second most demanding situations.
Workload during patient transport and primary care was classified as medium-heavy, while other situations were moderate to light.
Higher physical fitness in nurses correlated with lower relative workload in primary care and practical nursing procedures.
Tasks involving patient transfers and practical nursing procedures elicited greater shoulder-neck muscle tension.

Conclusions:

Patient transportation and primary care significantly contribute to nurse workload, particularly during specific shifts.
Individual physical fitness plays a role in modulating the physiological strain experienced by nurses during demanding tasks.
Interventions aimed at improving nurse physical fitness and optimizing task management may reduce occupational strain.