Prevalence and Risk Factors of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Health Problems among Staff Nurses

Nursing is a health-care profession focused on the care of individual, families, and communities in attaining, maintaining, and recovering optimal health and functioning. Nurses are part of the multidisciplinary medical team at hospitals and other medical centers that are susceptible to work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs). A nurse assesses, plans, implements, and evaluates care independently of medical staff and typically provides anything from basic triage care to assistance in serious trauma care and surgery. WMSDs are an important occupational health issue among all healthcare workers. WMSD is a collective and descriptive term for the symptoms caused or aggravated by work and characterized by discomfort, impairment, disability, or persistent pain. nsequences of work-related musculoskeletal health disorders among professional nurses are increased the number of sick days per year, premature retirement, and poor health. he nursing population constitutes about 33% of the hospital workforce, and nurses are at a high risk, accounting for 60% of reported occupational injuries. It is estimated that 12% of nurses leave the profession annually and 52% complain of chronic low back pain (LBP). The job requirements of nurses are to maintain patients' hygiene, look after their needs, and provide them with medication. These requirements predispose them to developing MSDs. A major role of the nurses is to provide hands-on physical care; however, other skills are equally important.