Should I be worried about back problems?

netglow, ASN, RN · May 31, 2011

Well yeah. But don't worry so!!! I take it you don't currently have back issues. Just mind what you will learn on how to lift. And, if you can look up exercises to strengthen your core. I've been a real slacker, but am tooling around with doing "plank" type exercises to get back into it.

You need to stop the worry mill, really, because there is always a lot to worry about in nursing, your back is going to be the very least. So find a way to deal with stuff early on :up:

imintrouble, BSN, RN · May 31, 2011

Yes, as a health care worker your back will be at risk. But if you were a welder your eyes would be at risk. If you were in construction your lungs would be at risk. If you were a prison guard or policeman, your life would be at risk.

Just jump in and enjoy the ride.

DLS_PMHNP, MSN, RN, NP · May 31, 2011

Besides proper body mechanics, exercise can help strengthen your 'core' muscles.

All the best,

Diane

jmqphd · Jun 1, 2011

1. Keep back and core strong for the rest of your life.

2. Stay generally healthy. Don't gain weight.

3. Buy good shoes.

4. Body mechanics, body mechanics, body mechanics.

5. "Scooting" a patient up in bed is a two man job.

6. If you hurt your back, don't minimize your symptoms. See the MD. Go on light duty. Treat the acute pain aggressively so it doesn't become chronic pain.

6. Unless someone is choking/arresting you ALWAYS have time to elevate the bed to a working level.

I'm old and been in nursing for 40 years, have had knee replacements and fusions of my thumbs. But my back is strong and I don't have back pain. I have seen some people hurt their backs through no fault of their own (patients deliberately give way... patients fall on nurses... there are things that happen.) But honestly, I've seen more nurses get careless, get minor injuries, not take care of them, not exercise... just like the general population.

There are lots of occupational hazards for nurses. But nothing is inevitable.

Morgan0429 · Jun 1, 2011

I threw my back out last week boosting a 300 lb patient because the person helping me was weak :) Good thing I have chiropractic care covered by my insurance!

JenniferSews · Jun 1, 2011

I had a very bad back before ever entering nursing. The specialist was a shocked at my MRI. But I'm very careful. I never lift anyone unless I am SURE they are a min assist. I get help, and frankly my coworkers never complain (I am always the first to help when others need it, a fair trade imo.) I've been a nurse a year and haven't had a single injury at work. I have had two related to my own darling children. :lol2:

Like others said there are risks with many professions. But good body mechanics are an important part of keeping yourself safe.

ETA- I bet if you talk to an expert, most back injuries in nursing are preventable.

demylenated, BSN, RN · Jun 1, 2011

I've had a herniated disk in my lower back (L4/L5) since 1993. I entered the healthcare field in 1994 as a CNA. In 1999, I became a nurse (LPN). I am now heading back to school to become an RN. I am very careful with back mechanics and exercises (it is second nature to me now). My injury has never acted up or caused me pain (other than the first year). The biggest thing is it has not gotten worse (doctor assured me I'd have surgery in 5 years - sorry, isn't ANYONE cutting on my back). The key is PROPER BODY MECHANICS. Exercise, and core muscle strength.

If you have children, IMHO, nursing isn't any more dangerous than picking up and running after your kids.

Word to the wise Stop being a worry wart!!! Or, there will be a lot of things that get to you in this profession :) It is all good!!

Welcome

~Demy

su9032 · Jun 1, 2011

If you are already worried about back pain and you are anything like me, just wait until you begin learning about the different pathos of the various disease processes. You will have many other things to worry about besides back pain. I for instance started to wonder if I had the beginning of coronary artery disease and was certain that I was having mild chest pain during the cardiovascular lectures. Then after learning about diabetes and all the complications, I was certain that I was going to somehow have beta cell burnout from all the sugar I've consumed while writing careplans and looking up endless meds. If I felt the slightest flank pain, I would first think that I needed to use the bathroom, but then my next thought would be, OMG, I may have early stage kidney failure. I was learning just enough to really freak myself out. I would wake up in the middle of the night and knew I must be having arryhthmias and tachycardia and I would get my stethescope to check my heart to see if I could detect anything and then I would get my 76 yr old father's pulse oximeter and put it on to check my O2 sats and pulse rate to make sure I was OK. I went to the doctor and told him about my issues (chest pain, concern about having arrythmias, fear of getting diabetes because of all the sugar I've consumed, etc) and had an EKG, blood work, urine analysis, etc, and there was absolutely nothing wrong with me. The doctor was like, "Honey, you need to learn how to manage your stress." :smackingf Anyway, once I finished my med-surg rotation, I totally calmed down and stopped worrying. Now mental health gave me all sorts of new things to think about, but I won't go into that.:)

greenfiremajick · Jun 1, 2011

Reminds me of a saying my mom used to say... "The practice of worrying is like being pregnant...You either are or you aren't--worrying won't change it either way, so you might as well just deal with things as they come."

Hi everyone, I have just been accepted into a nursing program and I actually am feeling terrified. I knew what I was going into but I feel the fear settling in. Should I be concerned about back problems simply because I am entering the nursing field? I've interviewed quite a bit of people in the health care field (nurses, volunteer coordinators, and nursing students).
What do I do about the back problems? My friend told me not to worry about it (he's a nurse with at least 5 years experience) but I'm still worried. He also told me that there will be days where I will absolutely feel like quitting the job. Which, I guess that's kind of normal in every profession. I'm also told that many lifting is done via machines. (same goes for physical therapists too).
I'm going to be a new student and I am actually quite scared of getting chronic back problems. It's happening to quickly. When I applied, I was very well aware of all the potential challenges that would come about, as with anything in life. But being accepted, it just seems way too real.
PS. I am a worry wart in general. Any help would be great. I live in Canada. I also thank you in advance.

austriancrystal · Jul 4, 2011

If you are already worried about back pain and you are anything like me, just wait until you begin learning about the different pathos of the various disease processes. You will have many other things to worry about besides back pain. I for instance started to wonder if I had the beginning of coronary artery disease and was certain that I was having mild chest pain during the cardiovascular lectures. Then after learning about diabetes and all the complications, I was certain that I was going to somehow have beta cell burnout from all the sugar I've consumed while writing careplans and looking up endless meds. If I felt the slightest flank pain, I would first think that I needed to use the bathroom, but then my next thought would be, OMG, I may have early stage kidney failure. I was learning just enough to really freak myself out. I would wake up in the middle of the night and knew I must be having arryhthmias and tachycardia and I would get my stethescope to check my heart to see if I could detect anything and then I would get my 76 yr old father's pulse oximeter and put it on to check my O2 sats and pulse rate to make sure I was OK. I went to the doctor and told him about my issues (chest pain, concern about having arrythmias, fear of getting diabetes because of all the sugar I've consumed, etc) and had an EKG, blood work, urine analysis, etc, and there was absolutely nothing wrong with me. The doctor was like, "Honey, you need to learn how to manage your stress." :smackingf Anyway, once I finished my med-surg rotation, I totally calmed down and stopped worrying. Now mental health gave me all sorts of new things to think about, but I won't go into that.:)

This made me laugh. Definitely sounds like something I would do once I had enough knowledge. :lol2:

JSlovex2 · Jul 4, 2011

If you're a good nurse who cares about your patients then you're going to strain your back a LITTLE. If a patient has to be moved then you should have help and more than likely it will be the aides asking you for help. If you help them like you should there are things you can do to minimize back trouble. Raise the bed up high to your level. use your feet, not your back. when i was a CNA two of us little girls could move a huge man by using the pad. I say "if you're a good nurse" because there were always the nurses who were too busy, blah blah blah. Moving a patient usually takes less than a minute and when you have help and use the proper body mechanics you shouldn't have any trouble. Seriously, back problems will be the LEAST of your worries as a nurse!