Remember!
Back Injury in
Avoid rounding your back at all
costs. Hinge at the hips!
Keep the object you are lifting as
close to your body as possible!
Maintain a tight core at all times
when moving or lifting patients!
Don’t be afraid
the Hospital to ask for help!
In 2018, a cross sectional back pain survey was conducted
on 800 orthopedic RN’s with at least one year of The number one action nurses
experience on the floor.
can perform to prevent back
Of the 800 nurses surveyed, 60% reported experiencing
at least thirty days of back pain in the last ninety days, and
injury is to ask for assistance
6% said their pain was causing them to want to quit. from others when needed.
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO PREVENT THIS FROM
HAPPENING?
Practice good lifting and turning techniques at all
times.
Make a conscious effort to sit and stand with good
posture throughout the work day.
Maintain a healthy body weight.
Wear supportive and comfortable shoes.
Move as close as possible to patients when lifting or
repositioning them.
Take the few seconds to adjust your workstation o
suit your individual ergonomic needs before
charting.
Take 30 second breaks throughout the day to gently
stretch and move your spine through it’s full range
of motion.
Perform self-care activities like taking baths, yoga or
massage after long shifts to keep your back healthy
and loose.
Educate other healthcare workers about safe lifting
and turning techniques if you see them being unsafe.
Hospital management should track back pain and
injury among nurses as an important metric of
employee satisfaction.
Correct Standing Position
“RN’s miss more work
days due to workplace
injury than almost any
other occupation.
30% percent of those
injuries involve a muscle
sprain, strain or tear.”
www.BLS.gov

Don’t be a victim
18,000 nurses miss one or more days of
work every year because of injuries on the
job.
BACK
Hospitals that implemented safe patient
handling technique programs saw RN
workplace back pain scores fall from
SCHOOL
50/100 to 7/100 over the course of several Safe lifting and turning techniques
months.
to prevent injury in the workplace
Take the extra time to raise the patient’s
bed to your preferred working height EVERY Orthopedic and Spinal Surgery
time. How many of our patients are former Ian Burau University Hospital
RN’s? iburau@augusta.edu
Floor 9
“RN’s miss more work
days due to workplace
injury than almost any
other occupation.
30% percent of those
injuries involve a muscle
sprain, strain or tear.”
www.BLS.gov
Don’t be a victim
18,000 nurses miss one or more days of
work every year because of injuries on the
job.
Hospitals that implemented safe patient
handling technique programs saw RN
workplace back pain scores fall from
50/100 to 7/100 over the course of several
months.
Take the extra time to raise the patient’s
bed to your preferred working height EVERY
time. How many of our patients are former
RN’s?
Remember!
Avoid rounding your back at all
costs. Hinge at the hips!
Keep the object you are lifting as
close to your body as possible!
Maintain a tight core at all times
when moving or lifting patients!
BACK
SCHOOL
Safe lifting and turning techniques
to prevent injury in the workplace
Orthopedic and Spinal Surgery
Ian Burau University Hospital
iburau@augusta.edu
Floor 9
Back Injury in Don’t be afraid
the Hospital to ask for help!
In 2018, a cross sectional back pain survey was conducted
on 800 orthopedic RN’s with at least one year of The number one action nurses
experience on the floor.
can perform to prevent back
Of the 800 nurses surveyed, 60% reported experiencing
at least thirty days of back pain in the last ninety days, and
injury is to ask for assistance
6% said their pain was causing them to want to quit. from others when needed.
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO PREVENT THIS FROM
HAPPENING?
Practice good lifting and turning techniques at all
times.
Make a conscious effort to sit and stand with good
posture throughout the work day.
Maintain a healthy body weight.
Wear supportive and comfortable shoes.
Move as close as possible to patients when lifting or
repositioning them.
Take the few seconds to adjust your workstation o
suit your individual ergonomic needs before
charting.
Take 30 second breaks throughout the day to gently
stretch and move your spine through it’s full range
of motion.
Perform self-care activities like taking baths, yoga or
massage after long shifts to keep your back healthy
and loose.
Educate other healthcare workers about safe lifting
and turning techniques if you see them being unsafe.
Hospital management should track back pain and
injury among nurses as an important metric of
employee satisfaction.
Correct Standing Position