Inertial Measurement Units as a Tool for Simultaneous Worker Health Protection and Promotion

Schall_NurseMark Schall, PhD Candidate, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, The University of Iowa

Mr. Schall used an inertial measurement unit (IMU) device with nurses during routine work activities to simultaneously measure their physical activity and exposure to non-neutral working postures. The use of instrumentation to simultaneously provide metrics is important to both health protection and health promotion activities is consistent to the Total Worker Health approach to employee health and well-being. Results will contribute critical knowledge useful for developing effective ergonomics training guidelines and workplace wellness programs for nursing administrators.

 Results & Dissemination

 

Nursing is physically demanding, placing nurses at risk for injuries, fatigue and poorer health outcomes when compared to other professions. In an effort to improve work conditions for nurses, hospitals have been shifting the way that they assign nurses to patients. Traditionally, hospitals use a total patient care model where a single nurse is assigned to several patients who may be located in different areas of the hospital. In contrast, in pod models, nurses work as a team in a particular physical area of the hospital. While pod models have resulted in improved patient access, professional communication, and job satisfaction among nursing personnel, the effects of pod nursing on other important outcomes related to nurse health such as exposure to physical risk factors, work-related fatigue, and physical activity have not been explored. Mark Schall, a postdoctoral research fellow and former trainee in the NIOSH funded Heartland Education and Research Center, and Nathan Fethke, a professor of Occupational and Environmental Health, received funding from the Healthier Workforce Center to examine the health impacts of the pod approach on nurses. Their research suggests that while pod nursing may be helpful for improving patient care and job satisfaction, the pod assignments did not result in less physical risks for nurses. Nurses in both job assignment models have similar job demands and risks.

Schall M, Fethke NB, Chen H (May, 2016). Working postures and physical activity among registered nurses. Applied Ergonomics.

Schall MC, Fethke NB, & Chen H (Mar, 2016). Evaluation of four sensor locations for physical activity assessment. Applied Ergonomics.

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