Lancaster, Pa.—Improving nurse wellness in the design of the healthcare built environment was the focus of a recent gathering of members of the Nursing Institute for Healthcare Design (NIHD) at the Lancaster, Pa., headquarters of Ecore.
“The average age of today’s nurse is 50 years old and many walk more than eight miles a day, work 10 to 12 hour shifts and experience other physically demanding aspects of their job,” said Mark Huxta, Ecore director of healthcare sales. “It is vital for hospitals and other healthcare facilities to focus on and enhance the ergonomic conditions of their staff’s environment to improve productivity, wellbeing and retention.”
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), injuries among healthcare workers rank among the highest by industry. Musculoskeletal disorders account for one-third of all occupational injuries reported to employers, while back, leg and foot fatigue follow closely behind. It’s a main reason why designers, facility managers and healthcare administrators are paying more attention to create environments that support the healthcare workforce.
“Improved seating, better work tools and new technology all contribute to a more ergonomically-friendly healthcare space,” said Joyce Durham, president of NIHD. “The not so obvious contributor to the wellness of a nurse is the floor. Specifying a floor that is more ergonomic can help to diminish chronic pain and boost productivity and patient quality of care, reduce absenteeism and workman comp claims, and lead to an overall improvement in quality of life for dedicated healthcare providers.”
According to Huxta, additional studies are now underway, including a Pebble Project focused on how flooring may reduce the risk of injury from patient falls—a concern that has both personal and financial ramifications for the patient and provider.