Sitting at work

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I recently shadowed in the pediatric CICU. It looked amazing! I noticed that a lot of nurses stand when they could be sitting to document or do other things. The patients are tiny; a nurse could even do a lot of work on the patient while sitting. Is it looked down on if a nurse sits? I get back pain when I have to stand for too long, but I feel like this shouldn't prevent me from working there because I can sit and do things like document. I worry that the culture of the unit may make me feel like I have to stand though. What have your experiences been with standing and sitting at work?

We have no chairs where I work (stand alone endo facility). Therefore we are literally on our feet for the entire shift. I feel fine during the shift. But by the time I get home, I'm so stiff I can barely get out of my car.

I don't work all that much anymore, though. But most of the staff there is full time. And young, lol.

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In my PICU years, I actually spent plenty of time sitting--charting, watching monitors, and occasionally feeding babies. I mean, you could spend hours on your feet with a crash, new admit, or fresh post-op, so taking the opportunity to sit when you could was always a good idea.

I don't think anyone, in ICU or anywhere else, should care about nurses' sitting, as long as their work is done and their patients are safe and settled. Nursing is hard work--rest when you can.

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Specializes in Peds Urology,primary care, hem/onc.

I have always worked in peds and am tall (5'11"). I have chronic back issues so I have learned over the years how to sit whenever I can. If I am not careful, I am bending over to take care of my patients all day (b/c of my height) and that is bad for my back. I am an NP now and I sit for most of the visit. I sit when I do the history, I sit next to my patients on the exam table when I examine them, when we discuss the plan of care etc. Our exam rooms have rolling stools so it is easy to get around the room on while sitting. Now I work with another NP and one of the MD's who never sit. They stand, all day (and they are both in their 60's) and I do not know how they do it...but that is what they prefer. I personally, cannot physically do it, so I don't.

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I try to sit down with my patients as much as possible to be on their level and facilitate meaningful communication and be present and in the moment and blah blah blah but honestly, it's because MY. FEET. HURT.

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Specializes in Infusion Nursing, Home Health Infusion.

I rarely get to sit so I am definitely going to do it for any extended charting. You have to remember that you are human and subject to fatigue and there is a little something called, "fatigue and delay" in that as you get you more fatigued it is going to take you longer to do your work as your shift ensues. So why not try to minimize the effects of fatigue by sitting when you can,taking your breaks, keeping stress levels as low as you can and stay hydrated! Personally, I can't sit to start an IV since I am just starting one after another all day long. I raise the bed and MUST be able to position the patient in a manner that is conducive to nabbing the vein I have chosen

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Specializes in Pediatric Critical Care.

It may be that they dont really notice that they havent sat down. I know that sometimes my brain is working so much that I dont really notice that I could have sat down because in my head I am running through a to-do list and know that I have to go do something else right after I finish the thing I probably could have been sitting for. Does that make sense? I feel like I worded it strangely.

P.S. I work in pediatric CVICU....its great! But not all the patients are tiny - most CVICUs take bigger ones too, if they have a congenital defect. We had a guy in his 50s earlier this month! And his parents who were in their 80s stayed at the bedside all day. :)

Also, while it may be easier on the back, it can be hard on the brain. Not that its the only complicated specialty by any means, but it IS complicated. Its worth it though. If you have any questions or want to chat about the specialty, feel free to message me :)

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Specializes in MSN, FNP-BC.

Maybe it's a nerves issue. I know if I have a particularly sensitive pt I tend to stand more so I'm ready when the [emoji90] hits the fan. Otherwise I sit when I can.

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Specializes in public health, women's health, reproductive health.

I stand most of my shift and then regret it later. I don't know why this happens. I need to sit much more than I do because of a problem with one of my feet. I find myself standing to chart and I have to tell myself to go sit down. I will say that it seems like sitting down triggers my patients to hit the call bell. I'm sure it's just coincidence...

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Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.

OP, are you now a nurse? You're "bio" says pre nursing student, but your name here would give one the impression that you are a licensed RN with a BSN degree....

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Specializes in CVICU.

I work in a CVICU and sit whenever I can. Each room has a computer so if I am doing an admission history, I sit. If I am just charting something quick like a med being given, or foley output (hourly I&O's in the ICU), I'll stand. But if I'm outside the room, I always sit. We have enough chairs and 3 nurse's stations, so there's no reason not to sit when charting.

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Prolonged sitting on the job is associated with pretty bad health outcomes.

So most of us are going to live to be 100!

Yeah, there should be a happy medium, but as with most things nursing, there rarely is.

http://www.cnn.com/2015/01/21/health/sitting-will-kill-you/

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I love love love your username!

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