Travel nursing is a rewarding career path, but it also takes a toll on the mind and body. For one, seeing sick patients and distraught family can weigh heavily on your emotions. Meanwhile, constantly being on your feet, lifting patients and performing other physical activities eventually leads to aches and pains. In fact, registered nurses are actually more prone to certain injuries than other occupations. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the healthcare industry has one of the highest rates for musculoskeletal injuries. Learn more about this harmful trend and how nurses can protect their well-being:
Musculoskeletal disorders a pain point for nurses
Many nurses are all too familiar with the frequent back pain, neck aches and muscle issues that occur as a result of the job. One of the main causes for these ailments is patient handling, according to the American Nurses Association. The organization launched a movement to combat this challenge called the Handle with Care campaign. The initiative outlines the pitfalls of current practices and ways medical facilities can better protect their workers.
As a nurse, you perform just about every bodily movement possible on the job. After all, the umbrella term patient handling includes anything from lifting and transferring to repositioning the individuals. Unless you're working in the neonatal unit, chances are this can be a pretty trying task. While nurses are taught proper body mechanics (think lift with the legs and bend at the waist) these are not as effective as you might think. As the ANA explained, original studies on these techniques were used with boxes with handles – even at the same weight, moving a human body is hardly anything like shifting a static cube. Therein lies the true crisis: Even if they follow protocol, nurses are still at risk for injury.
Protect your body and your patients
One strategy to combat this problem is the widespread use of assistant patient handling equipment. A study published in the Journal of Nursing Administration found that the use of lifting teams and mechanical devices was linked to a reduced risk for musculoskeletal disorders in registered nurses. Of course, the availability of these machines varies depending on the hospital, so if anything, you can at least consider this component of an employment opportunity before taking a job. Otherwise, you may benefit from advocating for its use in your medical facility.
Watch out for stress
The link between mental and physical health is becoming more clear every day, and the bodily repercussions of stress may be especially apparent in nurses. A 2014 survey from the legal nurse consultancy training group Vickie Milazzo Institute found that long shifts and heavy workloads have stressed nurses out at dangerous levels. This trend can also result in musculoskeletal ailments. According to the Mayo Clinic, stress causes physical symptoms like headaches and muscle pain.
Of course, a travel nurse can combat this cause of pain with adequate stress management. Regularly exercising, meditating and staying connected with friends and family can go a long way in staving off work-related stress.