Do you have to be physically strong to be a nurse? Lifting...

[nursingstudent3109]

Hello, all,

I am currently in a CNA class and will enter nursing school in the fall. Today I had a "awakening" to the physical demands of a CNA. I am 47 years old and nursing will be a second career for me did a desk job for 25 years). When it came time for me to bathe and dress the residents of the nursing home myself, I found I am not physically strong enough to do it alone. It takes all I have to roll the patients (many of whom don't help at all so they are "dead weight") and simutaneously removing/putting on a new brief, washing their behind, wiping if necessary, taking clothes off/putting on. And the physical demands of pulling on patients as they are transferred is very, very hard for me. I almost quit my CNA course today. I have already taken the TEAS and scored in the 99th percentile, so I believe I have the book-smarts to become a nurse; just not sure I have the physical strength needed. Obviously, nurses don't do the physical tasks CNAs are responsible for, but just how much physical tasks do they do? My long-term goal is to become a L&D nurse which doesn't seem to me it would require much lifting/pulling. But until I can get into L&D, I realize I'll have to work in whatever units are available. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated as now I am reconsidering my career choice. Am I just having a bad day or did I learn something valuable today that I should really pay attention to?

[teensmom]

I work in L & D, there's lots of lifting and pulling. Many patients get an epidural and they become dead weight & they have to be turned or changed. We often transfer patients from beds to the OR table or to the bed in postpartum, if they have had a c-section they are a dead weight.

I am out with a bad back right now, it's been a year and a half since I hurt myself at work. I was 50 when I got hurt, so I'm an older nurse.

[NoviceRN10]

I think you should have other staff help you whenever you have a pt that is too large to help move or assist on your own. Teamwork is important. Sometimes nurses are doing a lot of physical care for pts, but it depends on what kind of unit you are on. Usually I see nurse aides working together to help with "heavy" patients, or the nurse will assist. I find that just being on my feet is kicking my butt, not moving patients around .

[P_RN, ADN, RN]

I've been medically "retired" for 12 years. I must say I did hurt my back but only moving a bed with help. My lawyer says there is a trend for this sort of injury to be a progression of smaller injuries that have reached a critical point. However, right now the worker's comp sort of people don't necessarily agree. So the easy pushing was the proverbial straw that broke the RN's back.

No, I don't think you have to be the incredible hulk to be a Nurse. Many countries have adopted laws that require no lifting (pulling,rolling and turning ) . So far the US has not. I always advise to get help. Double team with another Nurse to do both of your assignments together. It works well and you will not have the aches and pains that you would if you try to be super Nurse! I wish you well futre Nurse.

[tokmom, BSN, RN]

L&D is very physical. I think the only place I worked where I didn't do a lot of lifting was ambulatory care. Even then you might get stuck moving stretchers around.

I usually don't change or dress pt's by myself if they can't help. I'm not going to ruin my back. I grab another nurse or CNA to help

[dishes, BSN, RN]

Nurses, even the ones who work in teams, have high rates of back injuries. If I were considering a career change after 25 years of a desk job, I would not consider nursing, instead, I would look at healthcare careers that have lower incidence of occupational injury. The prolonged sitting from a desk job puts a person at an increased incidence of developing degenerative disc disease. I have seen nurses with pre-existing degenerative disc disease sustain work related back injuries, all of them experienced difficulties with worker's compensation and most did not continue with their jobs because their work could not be accommodated.

[sapphire18]

Nurses DO do the physical tasks that CNAs are "responsible" for. Anyone who thinks otherwise is kidding themself.I am only 4 1/2 years into nursing and I already have back and shoulder issues.Another point to bring up, total care patients should always have physical tasks performed by 2 or more people.That being said, there are many areas of nursing and not all require the same degree of physical activity, but in this job market you just might not have a choice. L&D sounds pretty labor-intensive, though. (Pun intended=P)

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

Unless you can manage to get a clinic job or a desk job, most areas require lifting and pulling on a regular basis. Most units don't staff nearly enough CNA's, so nurses do it all.

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

"Obviously, nurses don't do the physical tasks CNAs are responsible for"- Sorry, this is 100% false. I do just as much physical labor, if not more, than the CNAs I work with. Last night I was taking care of a total care teenager- spastic quad, trach, g-tube, the whole 9 yards and every time he needed to be turned or changed, I did it either with the CNA or with another nurse. I have yet to experience a facility/environment in which nurses don't do physical labor. Some places don't even employ CNAs and those that do, don't employ enough. Nursing is very physically demanding.

[MrChicagoRN, RN]

The secret to maximizing your back is:

Position the bed correctly. The right height, the right angle

Use whatever equipment is necessary & available & available. Slide boards, gait belts, pull sheets whatever.

Ask people to help you, and you help them.

I was in Ortho for 3 years, and following those rules, it wasn't bad at all.

[Footballnut]

Check the physical requirements for the position you are interested in. The requirements should be published as part of the job description. Mine are clear cut. For example, it is essential that I am able to push 50 pounds. If there is a physical requirement where you feel you might be needing some assistance ask your MD for a referral to physical therapy or get a trainer. It is most likely do-able to meet your requirements.

I love that my job helps keep me physically fit and people often guess my age much younger than I actually am. I pay attention to good body mechanics when I work and I go with the benefits of having a physical job.

[Psychcns]

You might want to start an exercise program now. Yoga weights cardio. And When you work have really good shoes. And maybe Ted hose. Floor nursing is physically demanding. But like previous poster said it can helpyou stay fit..