Do RNs do a lot of heavy lifting?

roser13, ASN, RN · Jan 16, 2016

Even if you manage to find a new grad position that doesn't require lifting, you will definitely be required to lift as a part of your clinicals. It is unavoidable.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jan 16, 2016

I talked to an rn and she said RNs don't do heavy lifting. (I have a minor lower back injury so i cant do a lot of heavy lifting) That it's the LPNs and cnas who do the rolling of patients and RNs do the dressing changes/IVs. Just wanted other peoples say on this.

Many workplace settings do not even utilize LPNs and CNAs. Hence, in these places, lifting patients will be the responsibility of the all-RN nursing staff.

I'm an RN who doesn't lift anything or anyone heavy due to having an insurance company job away from the bedside. However, the first 10 years of my career were spent lifting and transferring patients.

Coldsvt · Jan 17, 2016

I'm a male nurse...I always get called in for heavy lifting it seems...and Im usually glad to help...usually lol

LDAthleteNurse, BSN, RN · Jan 17, 2016

Is there alot of heavy lifting in L&D. I'm having a cosmetic surgical procedure done that will require me to not life heavy for at least a month. I don't want to have to take off that long for work or be overly dependent on my co-workers for that long.

Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN · Jan 17, 2016

Depends on where you work. In ICUs we do a poop-ton of heavy lifting. In LTC, at least in my experience, the CNA does most of the lifting. (But not all!! Residents fall and have to be helped up, residents can be too heavy for the CNA to manage alone...med carts can be heavy to push across carpeted floors.)

I haven't really seen RN case managers or MDS nurses lift, but those positions are not for new grads either.

However everywhere I've worked has "able to lift 50 lbs" as a job requirement, so you should probably discuss it with your provider before committing to nursing school.

Also, lots of RNs have injured their backs -- it doesn't end their career in many cases, esp for "minor" back injuries. You may just get the green light. :)

Karou · Jan 17, 2016

I do heaving lifting constantly. It depends on where you work, and what type of unit if in the hospital.

In LTC you won't have to do much lifting. NICU/nursery won't be heavy, obviously.

I work med-surg and do heavy lifting all shift. Many patient requires multiple staff to turn/move and we all help out. Special equipment helps (hover mats, ceiling lifts, ect). We get a large amount of total care patients.

nutella, MSN, RN · Jan 17, 2016

It depends on your position and place. Obviously NICU is not much lifting. Some places have mechanical lifts or rent lifts for heavy patients. There are over the bed lifting constructions for heavy patients that are mobile. There are also a lot of special equipment for when a patients falls to the floor like inflatable bed...

When you have a 600 lb patient somewhere or even 400 lb plus , everybody needs to help - all hands on deck.

In any way, nowadays employers spell out how much weight a person needs to be able to move or lift in a job.

feelix, RN · Jan 17, 2016

Everyone who works on the floor does an equal amount of lifting, depending on company policy. Even if you are a no-lift facility, you do rolling', transferring and pulling. The surest way to find yourself out and on your behind is to say this is CNA/LPN/tech work. Your patient is your responsibility. The CNAs and techs are there to help you do YOUR work, but if the work is not done, it is the nurses responsibility. BTW, LPNs have their own patient load. Try telling one to come and lift your patient because you are an RN, and you will be written up. There are some nursing homes where RN's let call lights go on till a CNA answers them. That is an example of bad nursing and I would not put mama in one of those.

amoLucia · Jan 17, 2016

I always considered it to be 'all hands available' esp when the fire bells go off. NOBODY is considered exempt from helping when there's such an emergency.

And then I think what about the times when a bed must be physically moved for whatever reason. Pushing and/or pulling can be just as 'heavy' as lifting.

Or when nec to move a stretcher or whch. Wheels can only help just so much.

Another PP commented about the MEDCART. Oh yeah, try pushing that thing some extended length of time. Esp on carpet flooring with the medcart's little wheels and I think ergonomically you're trying to push about one-quarter ton.

"Not my yob" just don't cut it health-care!!

NOADLS · Jan 17, 2016

What would you define as heavy?

If you don't want to do heavy lifting, just find a job where you won't have to do any. Only problem is that this limits where you can work and that is not good if you are a new graduate. You might not be able to avoid heavy lifting throughout your education.

I am fortunate enough to not have to deal with any heavy lifting, but I generally help with unpacking our supplies.

DesertSky, BSN · Jan 17, 2016

RN's most definitely do heavy lifting! I work in the ICU and we pretty much do total patient care. That means bed baths, Q2hr turns, cleaning and changing, and any other activity. Many of our patients are sedated and on the ventilator which means we do all of the turning without any assistance from our patients.

Of course I am sure there are areas of nursing that aren't as physical such as clinic nursing or perhaps ambulatory. But you will definitely have to do heavy lifting to get through nursing school even if you are lucky to land a less physical job in nursing as a new grad!

Good luck:)

feelix, RN · Jan 17, 2016

You do have to transfer patients, especially C-sections off the table to the stretcher and from the stretcher to the bed in L&D.