Ergonomic assessment of a critical care unit

• Published in: Critical care nursing clinics of North America Vol. 19; no. 2; p. 155
• Main Authors: Stucke, Sheri, Menzel, Nancy N
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.06.2007
• Subjects: Attitude of Health Personnel; Critical Care - organization & administration; Ergonomics - methods; Female; Focus Groups; Humans; Intensive Care Units - organization & administration; Lifting - adverse effects; Male; Musculoskeletal Diseases - etiology; Musculoskeletal Diseases - prevention & control; Needs Assessment; Nevada; Nursing Methodology Research; Nursing Staff, Hospital - organization & administration; Nursing Staff, Hospital - psychology; Occupational Diseases - etiology; Occupational Diseases - prevention & control; Occupational Health; Posture; Qualitative Research; Risk Assessment - organization & administration; Risk Reduction Behavior; Safety Management - organization & administration; Surveys and Questionnaires; Workload - psychology; Workplace - organization & administration; Workplace - psychology
• ISSN: 0899-5885; 1558-3481
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2007.02.005

Although direct patient care providers in all settings suffer musculoskeletal injuries at unacceptable rates, high-risk tasks in nursing homes are the most frequently researched. Less is known about the high-risk tasks performed by critical care nurses. To identify the tasks in critical care that differ from those in nursing homes, this qualitative study used the Ergonomic Workplace Assessment Protocol for Patient Care Environments to assess a medical ICU. Results and recommendations for change are presented.