Differences in Nurses’ Upper-Body Posture in Manual Patient Handling—A Qualitative Case Study

Abstract

(1) Background: In the context of nursing challenges and workforce shortages, nurses experience significant physical and psychological strain due to manual patient handling. (2) Methods: This study investigates differences in nurses’ upper body postures, patient turning acceleration, and perceived exertion during a typical repositioning process within two repositioning maneuvers. (3) Results: The results reveal variations in positioning duration, upper-body posture angles, and turning acceleration between nurses and sequences. Nurse 2 exhibits more extreme postures (e.g., lateral flexion p p p = 0.03). (4) Discussion: These findings emphasize the need for ergonomic adherence and targeted training to enhance patient repositioning. Comprehensive solutions are necessary for patient and nurse comfort, particularly in cases of higher patient weights. Against the background of ergonomic body posture, this study highlights the potential of innovative tools and ongoing research to alleviate physical strain and enhance patient care.

Keywords

• nursing
• bed-bound
• care
• positioning techniques
• movement analysis