Elevating Experiences. Enriching Lives. | Godrej Interio

ELEVATING EXPERIENCES, ENRICHING LIVES

A Study conducted on the nursing staff in India

The healthcare sector of India is rapidly changing and expanding, to keep pace with the increased expectations from the receivers of healthcare. There are a wide range of services available and an array of technologies used for service delivery Patients today are also more alert and better-informed regarding the choices available to them. As service delivery expands and methods evolve, there is an increasing demand on the nursing staffto provide high-quality services.

We at Godrej Interio, study the people and their work environments and problems faced by them while carrying out the work. In that vein, we studied the routine of nurses during their workday, their work environment, the physical demands of their work, and the problems faced by them while carrying out various care giving tasks. The objective of the study was to improve the health and productivity ofthe nursing staff.

The study revealed that nurses face tremendous workrelated stress and burnout due to workload, long working hours, and overtime done. The job also has significant physical demands like standing for long hours, performing tasks in awkward and sustained postures, and handling patients while transferring them. This poses a lot of risk of musculoskeletal disorders. In fact, an alarming 90% of nurses studied, suffered some form of musculoskeletal disorder due to the nature of theirwork.

Educating the nursing staff about adopting ergonomic postures, taking appropriate breaks during their work schedule, adopting safe patient handling techniques, and designing workspaces for nurses that are conducive to their job demands are measures that must be adopted by the nursing staff and healthcare organizations to make the nursing force of India happier and healthier

India’s Healthcare sector is experiencing explosive growth in revenue, the number of service providers, and state-of-the-art equipment and medical supplies in use.

Modernization and commercialization of the medical profession have driven the sharp expansion of hospitals, nursing homes, and clinics. Patients have also started taking well-informed decisions after considering the plethora of options available to them. Medical facilities are being forced to compete with each other to provide the best services.

The healthcare ecosystem in India consists of the primary, secondary, and tertiary health care, provided by both public, aswell as private health care providers.

an urgent care center

Secondary care is defined as services provided by medical specialists or health professionals, at a hospital, or an acute care center Secondary care includes general hospital care, childbirth attendance, medical imaging services, and the care provided in Intensive Care Units (ICU).

Tertiary care is meant for patients, who require a higher level of care in specialized hospitals. The professionals at the tertiary care level are highly specialized, and they often use advanced medical equipment to treat the patients. Cardiac surgery, treatment and management of cancer, burn injuries, cosmetic surgery, neurosurgery, and other complicated procedures fall in this category

The Private Healthcare Sector, also known as the independent healthcare sector, consists of medical clinics and hospitals, that are run independently by a person, company, a group of companies, charities, or not-for-profit organizations (NGOs).

The initial medical consultation takes place at the primary care level, where the general practitioner offers medical services in a clinic/chamber, a health center, or

On the other hand, the Public Healthcare Sector includes hospitals that are mainly governed by government bodies Community health centers (CHCs), Primary health centers (PHCs), and sub-centers (SCs) are examples of public hospitals. While the sub-district hospitals fall at the Secondary care level, district hospitals and medical colleges are included in the Tertiarywing ofthe healthcare system in India.

The healthcare sector in India & the emerging role of nurses

The Indian healthcare system has undergone a revolution. All three sectors have experienced growth in service delivery and excellence. Changes are also being observed in human resource development through improved education and training alongside greater regulation, control, and legislation.

Modern healthcare teams today are becoming extremely complex and diverse. Healthcare facilities are building teams that include doctors, resident doctors, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, technologists and technicians, therapists and rehabilitation specialists, emotional, social and spiritual support providers, administrative and support staff, community health workers and patient navigators Healthcare has become a team effort and every individual member has a specific role. While some diagnose and treat the disease, others provide extensive care to fulfill the physical and emotional needs ofthe patients.

In all this, the role of nurses has always been crucial. Nurses are on the front line every day, tending to the sick, counselling patients on their health, and working to improve processes throughout the healthcare system. Nursing care is not restricted to hospitals only, but it is seen in home care nursing, industrial care nursing, community health nursing, military nursing, and many more.

Nurses have a high level of knowledge, clinical expertise, and the capability to independently perform several routine clinical actions. Nurses can also use specialized

clinical knowledge for assessment and monitoring

Today, nurses also integrate and manage reports and treatment plans provided by multiple doctors for the same patient, manage patients with intense care needs, and help patients as they move out of hospitals and into the home or other settings. Nurses also work as “health coaches”, counselors, and they handle many other roles to prevent illness and promotewellness.

Various nursing programs are now available in India, based on the specialty area and services provided are ANM-Auxiliary nurse and midwife, GNM-General nursing and midwifery, BSc Nursing, MSc Nursing, etc. Apart from these nursing programs, there are also many specialized degrees in fields like neurology, orthopedics, cardiology, and more.

With the establishment of new cadres and legal empowerment, Nps (Nursing Practice) can provide costeffective, competent, safe, and quality-driven specialized nursing care to patients in a variety of settings.

However, with this expansion in the role, nurses in India are facing new challenges in their workplaces. On one hand, they are more equipped and qualified but, on the other, the demand and supply ratio is sub-optimal. There is an impact on the service delivery system due to this mismatch. This is causing the NPs to be subjected to a lot of pressure to keep up with the expected quality of care to the satisfaction ofthe care receiver

Increased demands on nurses

The new vision of healthcare delivery places a lot of emphasis on patient-centered care. In line with this vision, significant changes have been brought about in the way healthcare is delivered Improvements in patient access, reduced waiting times, improved revenues for health systems, controlled costs, and many such strategies have evolved to provide patients a new and improved experience of the health care delivery system.

Advanced technology is being widely deployed to improve the patient experience too This includes technology for less invasive diagnostics procedures, surgical robotics tools, smaller implants, and more. Patient-centered mobile apps for the ease of taking and managing appointments and reports of tests and connected devices for home use are giving the patient greater control and making them feel more secure and better informed. Remote patient monitoring solutions are making it easier for medical professionals to monitor patients all the time. Artificial Intelligence and digital platform integration is also making the work of hospital staffeasier and more impactful.

These technological advancements in healthcare have improved the quality of service provided in the private

Burnouts among nurses

Caring for others, especially in the nursing profession, has long been associated with stress. Nurses work under challenging conditions. They deal with pressure driven by high stakes in their work environment, the pace of work, long hours, and escalated performance expectations.

Stressors for nurses in specific departments like radiology, ICU and Operation theatre also include scheduling pressures Sequenced procedures could exceed the allotted time, causing unplanned delays to the following patientswhich could be critical.

Also, nurses, today need to stay updated with ever-

as well as government sector in India Not only caregivers but also care-receivers have gained independence and autonomy in choosing and delivering the highest level ofcare.

As the work environment evolves, the demands on nurses keep increasing Technology solutions like automation and remote patient monitoring are also making it more challenging for nurses to stay connected with their patients.

In the new, tech-driven care environment, nurses are also responsible for massive amounts of data collection, technology adoption, liaising with inter-disciplinary teams.

Nurses and nursing departments now need to aggressively manage the changing environment so that the quality of patient care is enhanced. Further, the need to maintain an enhanced quality of interaction between the patients and the nurses is imposing huge demand on the nursing population to multitask They have to accelerate service delivery and become adept at technology-handling. The expectations from the nurses are rising as patients look up to them as their primary contact point during their treatment.

changing technology and deal with extended hours of work. This has caused shortages of qualified personnel. Hence, it’s not surprising that there are growing incidences of burnout in nurses. Given the critical role played by NPs in the healthcare ecosystem, it is essential to have a well-motivated, healthy and well-prepared workforce in place.

This can be achieved by focusing on the requirements of nurses and addressing the challenges they face on a daily basis This will create an empowered, encouraged, and affirmed nursing staff that can continue to deliver extremely high standards of patient care.

Our Study

With the objective of understanding more about the challenges that NPs face, we, at Godrej Interio, tried to understand the current work environment and work pattern ofthe nurses in India.

A mix of observational and subjective study was carried out across different hospital categories including government, private, trust, small polyclinics, and big hospitals across the nation. We interviewed the nursing

staff across departments and observed them formally and informally during their working hours to know about their actual on-field job tasks and their responsibilities.

Some alarming facts emerged that need to be addressed immediately, as they are responsible for causing a lot of stress and pain among the nursing force ofIndia.

Age Group

20-25 years : 22.7%

25-30 years : 21%

31-35 years : 23.5%

Qualification:

GNM nursing - 73%

BSc nursing - 14%

Diploma Nursing - 12%

Sample size 400

Gender:

Males - 7%

Females - 93%

Organization pattern:

Government setups - 40%

Private setups - 55%

Trust operated - 5%

The significant insights about the study have been shared in subsequent sections but the top problems identified by the study were that 90% of nurses have complained of musculoskeletal pain or discomfort in relation to theirwork environment andwork culture.

Work Environment

- Factors such as faultywork behavior/postures

- Lack ofmanpower

- Infrastructural inefficiency

- Poorly designed workspaces in the hospitals are seen to be causing these strains and stresses.

Faulty work behavior/postures

90% nurses facing musculoskeletal pain

Lack of manpower

Infrastructural inefficiency

Poorly designed workspaces

Long working hours, overtime and work overload affects the physical and psychological wellbeing of the nurses

LongWorking Hours

As per the FactoriesAct 1948, “every adult (a person who has completed 18 years of age) cannot work for more than 48 hours in a week and not more than 9 hours in a day” According to our study, 88% of nurses work for more than 8-10 hours a day, which adds up to more than 48 hours aweek.This, in turn, leads to fatigue and stress.

Working overtime

The nursing staff at hospital were found to be working for longer hours with fewer breaks, and often, little time for recovery between shifts. Scheduled shifts may be of eight, twelve, or even sixteen hours and may not follow the traditional pattern of the day, evening, and night shifts. Although the twelve-hour shifts usually start at 8 p.m. and end at 8 a.m., some extend till 9 or 10 a.m., depending on the next shifts’ staff availability We also observed that 35% of nurses do overtime twice or thrice a month whereas 23% do overtime more than four times

a month and 10% do overtime more than five times a month.

The nurses are also expected to do double shifts in the event of a shortage of staff on a particular day Our study revealed that 20% of nurses reported doing double duty at least twice a month. Nurses working in specialized units such as surgery, dialysis, and intensive care are often required to be available to work extra hours, or on double shifts (on-call), in addition to working their regularly scheduled shifts.

We found that 26% of nurses were called on duty on their off days, twice a month and 10% of nurses were called on duty more than twice a month on their off days. Twentyfour-hour shifts are quite common, particularly in emergency rooms and in units where there is shortage of staff

Work overload

53% of the nurses in departments like medicine and surgery (especially general wards) were observed to deal with staff-patient ratios of more than 6 patients per nurse. "As per the Indian Nursing Council (INC) norms, the nurse-patient ratio should be 1:3 for general wards in medical colleges, and 1:5 for district hospitals, one in each clinic room of the OPD, and 1:1 in ICU, ICCU, and other critical care areas.

No break scenario

According to our study, nurses don’t take adequate rest breaks in between working hours This results in a physical overload that in turn, adds to the mental stress.

always at work, while 37 % felt that they are extremely fatigued often,when they are atwork.

Adverse effects on health and wellbeing, such as cognitive anxiety, poor sleep quality, musculoskeletal disorders, and stress were often associated with long working hours, overtime work, no time to take breaks, andwork overload.

Cognitive anxiety

Inadequate sleep, poor shift rotation, shifts longer than 12 hours and the stresses of patient handling were contributing risks factors that caused stress in the nursing workforce. Our study revealed that 59% of nurses said that their work-related stress due to work overload and irregular shifts was more than other stresses ofwork, like role conflicts (12%), interpersonal relationship (15%), insecurities of responsibilities (10%), and feeling extremely fatigued due to mental stress (20%).

Poor sleep Quality

Nurses work continuously for 4 hours or more, without taking breaks. This causes burnout and makes them feel extremely fatigued. When asked about their fatigue levels, 22% said that they feel extremely fatigued almost

When considering the negative impacts of shift work on nurses’ health, fatigue and sleepiness are the most common complaints reported. 27% of nurses said that they sleep for less than 7 hours a day and 21% said that they sleep for less than 6 hours a day They also said that they have rarely slept soundly in the last 6 months. Moreover, when asked whether they felt rejuvenated after getting up from sleep, 50% answered in the negative and 22% said ‘maybe’ Thus, irregular shifts, overload, long working hours contribute to lack of sleep and added physical stress.

Physical Demands Of Nursing Profession

90% nurses suffers from one or more pain issues

61% complaints of neck pain

43% complaints of wrist pain

51% complaints of knee pain

Nursing profession by itself is a physically demanding profession as most of their job tasks are carried while standing and they have to be on the go for long time during their work shift.This imposes a lot of stress on their lower back and legs.

Physical discomfort due towork overload

Our study showed that the work-related factors such as performing nursing procedures repeatedly, treating a large number of patients, bending/twisting the back and lifting/transferring of patients and equipment caused work-related musculoskeletal disorders among the nurses. It was observed that 51% of nurses complain of lower and upper back pain. This could be an account of bending/twisting the back in awkward ways, standing longer while treating a large number of patients, inadequate breaks and lifting/transferring dependent patients.

a) Long Standing hours atwork

As per our study and interaction with the staff of the hospitals, nurses walk or stand most of the time (74% each), followed by a sitting posture, which constitutes about 24% of the total time.As a result, 51% suffered from knee pain and 51% suffered from leg pain due to the

51% complaints of back pain

number ofstanding hours nurses spend atwork.

b)Job tasks demanding physical exertion

The job of nurses often involves pushing heavy trolleys, patient beds, lifting the patient to make them sit upright, moving patients from one surface to another, bending during activities like bed-making and feeding, infusing IV fluids, transferring the patient from bed to wheelchair and vice versa, delivering personal hygiene, and more. All these tasks are strenuous and involve a lot of physical effort on the part ofthe nurses.

We observed that

Ÿ 60% of nurses bend from their back in awkward postureswhile doing patient care activities

Ÿ 55% reported lifting heavy patients while transferring the patient or maintaining their hygiene

Ÿ 60% reported using strenuous and awkward grips for a long time while doing procedures or preparing patients for procedures

Ÿ 65% reported awkward back twists while providing care.

Several nurses were observed adopting awkward postureswhile performing patient’s daily routine tasks.

C) Patient transfer tasks:

Transferring a patient from one surface to another is an important job responsibility ofthe nursing staff

In view of this, we evaluated the transfer techniques being used by the nurses, and whether those are safe for the patients, aswell as the nursing staff

Itwas observed that:

Ÿ 58% of the nurses lift the patient alone without the help of a gait belt, while 44% of them lift the patient alone with the help of a gait belt (the correct technique is to use a gait belt, and two people transfer the patient).

Ÿ 43% reposition the patient on the bed alone (The ideal technique is to have two people reposition the patient on the bed as itwould be less strenuous).

Ÿ 57% of nurses shift the patient (fully dependent) from one bed to the other with the help of one person, 33% shift with the help of two and only 10% shift with the help of three persons, which is the correct technique to transfer the patient from one bed to another

MSD’s due to physical exertion

61% of the nurses surveyed reported problems in the neck. The next biggest problem area was the back (upper and lower), as reported by 51% of the nurses surveyed 47% of the nurses surveyed experienced problems in their shoulders. 43% of the nurses reported problems in their wrists and fingers, while 34% of the nurses suffered problems in their elbows, due to incorrectwork postures.

Ÿ 74% reported that they don’t use mechanical lifters while transferring the patient from one surface to another

We found that some ofthe large private hospitals (16.7%) do have mechanical lifters. However, it was observed that the staff was either not trained to use the same, or they were hesitant to use the same, as it is a timeconsuming process Unfortunately, 83 3% of the hospitalswere found to not have mechanical lifters.

It is known that the patient transferring techniques must be safe and well-supported to prevent falls and injury to, both, the patient and the nursing staff

But as we observed, only a few techniques being used by the nursing staff during patient transfers from one surface to another are according to safety standards. The reason most-often quoted was the lack of time to wait for help to arrive or belts to be worn. In some cases, this was said to be due to the lack of manpower. Some blamed lack ofproper infrastructure.

Absenteeism

From observations and interaction with the nurses it is clear that they face many MSD’s. 41% of nurses were found to have taken leave for 1-3 days, whereas 7% of nurses have taken leaves for 4-6 days,within the most

nurses have taken leaves for 4-6 days, within the most recent two months, to manage the pain that they have got due to MSD’s. This indicates a clear productivity loss to the healthcare organization.

The pain and MSDs suffered by the nurses could have also impacted their self-confidence and self-esteem, thus decreasing their efficiency and productivity This creates psychological stress. All of these factors create room for errors.

When asked about the remedial action taken by them for alleviating this pain, we observed that nurses use remedial measures like applying painkiller ointment, massage, rest, and pain killer medicines It was observed that 92% are not aware ofthe ergonomic

Infrastructure concern

Hospital infrastructure and the work environment also plays a critical role in the optimal functioning of the staff Our study revealed that the kind of furniture provided in the hospitals, especially in general wards and in OPDs, was fixed and lacked adjustability features. This made adjusting beds or chairs according to nurses’ height very difficult.

Solution

Nurses form the single largest groups of health professionals. In all care-delivery settings, they have a critical role to improve care, advance health, and providevalue.

Even in areas where adjustable furniture was provided in the hospital, it was also observed that due to the lack of knowledge about correct postures, nurses don’t adjust the height of the bed or examination couches, causing strain on their joints and ligaments.

Temperature regulation is another factor, especially in the ICU setups, where the temperature is very low, and nurses face problems like numbness in their feet while standing and in their fingerswhile taking notes.

When asked about the seating arrangements available for the nurses in the hospitals, 34.8% said that they have fixed chairs with no adjustability features, 24.2% said that they have stools to sit on and only 22% said that they have adjustable chairs for sitting.

In response to a changed system and new responsibilities, the challenges faced by nurses need to be addressed on priority An efficient nursing workforce will make healthcare delivery smoother, and the patientswill feel safer and more secure.

A. Creating awareness about risk involved in patient handling

There are several factors, which make patient handling activities strenuous, thereby increasing the risk of injury Force, repetition, and awkward positions are three major concerned areas thatwe identified.

There are times when patients cannot be held close to the body due to tubes or equipment attached to their bodies. If there is no proper tool to hold a patient, like loops on the bed sheet while transferring, it will be difficult to hold him/her This increases the risk of the patient slipping during the transfer. The task gets even more difficultwhen patients are bulky

Slipping, tripping, and falling are considered common workplace hazards. Work surfaces play an important role in patient transfer techniques. Space limitations (small rooms, lots of equipment) crowd the space, due to which, maneuvering transfer equipment and wheelchairs become difficult Often, there is no assistance available. Inadequate equipment, inappropriate footwear, and clothing increase the risks in the transfer The lack of knowledge or training among nursing staffadds to the risk.

It is, therefore, essential to educate the nurses about these risk factors, and their consequences.The following

measures can reduce patient handling risks to a great extent:

Ÿ Technological advancements and assistive devices help nurses in their task of patient movement and mobility They also help reduce risks of injury to the staff Appropriate use of assistive devices to lift, move, reposition, and transport patients is the foundation of a successful and safe patient handling and mobility Assistive devices include mobile mechanical patient lifts, ceiling-mounted lifts, friction-reducing devices, lateral transfer aids, in-bed turning and repositioning devices, and heightadjustable electric beds. Ideally, this equipment should be located at or near the beds of all patients. Further, all the staff must be aware of the benefits of integrating tools and technology into the patient handling processes. This apart, the assistive devices must match the patients’ physical, cognitive and clinical needs.

Ÿ Competence-based employee education on the use of safe patient handling and mobility devices and associated work practices is crucial. Both, new hires and the permanent staff, who have the responsibility to handle patients, should be given proper education and rigorous training to improve their efficiency

Ÿ Successful design and implementation of safe handling practice requires meaningful, sustained changes in the workplace culture To build and sustain successful safe handling methods, leaders, managers, and clinical staff must demonstrate a consistent commitment towards the nurses’ and patients’ safety Frontline nursing staff must be actively engaged in planning, implementing, and evaluating the methods.

Ÿ The impact of safe patient handling methods must be evaluated objectively on a routine basis. Relevant metrics could be a drop-in injury rates, improved

patient safety, reduced direct costs (including medical costs for injury treatment and rehabilitation, as well as compensation to injured workers), and lesser days of lost work, and increased employee satisfaction.

A collective effort to prevent injuries related to patient handling through safe handling methods requires partnerships and coalitions, staff education, increased access to and use of assistive devices and ongoing education at all levels ofthe organization.

B. Creating awareness about the safe patient handling techniques

Defining appropriate patient handling techniques should start with an assessment of the condition of the patients involved.

The patient assessment should examine:

Ÿ The level ofassistance the patient requires

Ÿ The size andweight ofthe patient

Ÿ The ability and willingness of the patient to understand and cooperate

Ÿ Any medical condition that may influence the choice ofmethods for lifting or repositioning

Even with assistance from additional staff members, it is important to note that risks persist. Therefore, manual lifting of patients should be avoided or eliminated whenever feasible. The use of large patient handling aids should always be encouraged.

Some points to considerwhile handling patients are:

Ÿ Always seek the help of assistants wherever necessary

Ÿ Before starting any kind of handling activity, caregivers should position themselves as close as possible to the patient, also kneel on the patient's bed ifnecessary

Ÿ Before starting any kind of handling operation, explain the procedure to the patients while also encouraging them to cooperate as much as possible in the course ofthe handling activity

Ÿ Adopt the right posture during patient handling operations

Ÿ Wear suitable footwear and clothing.

C. Creating awareness about ergonomic factors

Our study revealed that the nursing staff across hospitals has complaints of discomfort and musculoskeletal disorders. Awkward postures and manual patient handing in the workplace should be eliminated, and hospitals should adopt ergonomics techniques like adopting beds with height adjustability features.The height ofthe beds must be not too high and not too low. Low beds will require nurses to bend more and if the beds are too high, the patients will experience difficulties in getting on and offthe bed.

Standing for long hours (74% reported of standing and walking for more than 6 hours in their shift), can be

considered as a risk factor for the identified knee (51% reporting) and heel pain (50% reporting) among nurses. Techniques like shifting the weight while standing or sitting whenever possible are advisable Wearing comfortable footwear, so that the stress on the joints and ligaments of the lower limbs are decreased, taking mini breaks, and doing simple stretches while working are some recommendations.

Installation of mechanical aids e.g. pneumatic lifts, movable beds, wheelchairs, and/or automated handling equipment will also help reduce the risk of injuries and musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs).

D. Creating awareness about physical health and wellbeing

Adopting a healthy lifestyle can help nurses maintain better health and well-being, even while following a busy schedule.

As the role of nurses gets more challenging, they are exposed to stressful experiences. Establishing self-care practices and proactive coping skills early in the career may help them maintain good health and resilience.

Some of the ways to maintain a healthy lifestyle are, eat well and drink plenty of water, practice mindfulness or meditation, exercise regularly, find a hobby unrelated to your studies or work, make time for spiritual pursuits, make time for family and friends, plan your week in advance, sleep at least 8 hours a day around the shift timings, quit unhealthy eating or not eating enough, correct poor time management issues, reduce caffeine intake.

By following self-care and a relaxed routine, nurses can deliver high-quality care giving tasks with empathy and interest.

E. Designing modern and ergonomic workspace for nurses

Hospital space design involves factoring in many different facets of work, including physical elements (e g , medical equipment design, workspace, workstation and physical environment) and psychosocial elements (e.g., job content, workload, autonomy and participation). All these elements impact the nursing staff’s stress and efficiency.

The design of the hospital spaces and infrastructure plays a major role in the job satisfaction of the nurses. These spaces must be designed according to the job hours and tasks of nurses. The design must ensure that they have space to relax, recover, and rejuvenate themselves. Reducing the stress and fatigue of the nursing staff and providing ergonomically supportive spaces should be given importance while designing the hospital infrastructure.

Work design can also positively impact patient safety through the improved efficiency of the nursing staff This can be done by removing obstacles to their performance and enhancing their processes for providing care.

Various steps can be taken while designing these spaces like furniture adjustability, obstacle-free placement of medical equipment and furniture in the room, light in the room, ventilation in and around, and

maintaining optional acoustics levels. All these are important for patient recovery and staffefficiency

Designing spaces is less about allocating square footage per person and more about the way the spaces are organized. It is also about where and how they can be strategically located within the facility to maximize flexibility and add value to the staff, as well as the organization.

Break-out zones are such spaces, which need to be incorporated while designing the hospital spaces. The location of break-out zones should be convenient enough to allow access to work areas easily This also requires a necessary separation from patient care and treatment areas, especially to provide the staff with the distance required to refresh and recharge. The furniture in break-out areas should exude a homely feel and strive to create a connectionwith the outdoors.

Depending on the space available, a variety of furniture can be placed in the break-out rooms for the staff to choose from, including café tables, coffee bars with high stools, computer carrels, lounge seating, recliners, private rooms for lactating mothers on job, singleoccupant staff meditation rooms with plush seating, warm color tones, dimmable lighting, and softer surfaces for better acoustics.

Areas for sports and recreation can also be included. Overall, there should be a clear distinction between the staff areas and the patient-facing zones to allow mental relief to the workers. The materials, furnishings, colors, and style could be different to provide diversion and visual interest.

Furniture adjustability is one such important facet while selecting or changing furniture for patient care. Adjustable beds, in which the height, width, angle, and placement of bed can be adjusted according to the task that the patients have to perform, are advisable. Comfortable chairs should be provided by taking into consideration the ergonomic quotient of the task to be performed. While examining a patient, the examination table should be height-adjustable to avoid unnecessary load on the joints and muscles of the staff members. All other accessories that occupy the position beside the

Our Approach

An initiative of Godrej Interio’s Workplace and Ergonomics Research Cell, our Wellness@Work program has been a key knowledge advocate in the space ofworkplace trends and ergonomics.

Over the past few years, we have been training nursing staff about ergonomics and its importance by conducting training sessions in hospitals across India. The complete training module is formed to deliver a high-class ergonomic training program with the primary objective ofimproving the health ofthe nursing staff

Our team comprises Workspace professionals, Occupational Therapists, and Ergonomists with research and advisory experience spanning corporate, government, and healthcare organizations. The team’s work with these organizations with the objective of understanding of changes in work patterns and workspaces, issues arising thereof and helping them improve their Ergonomic &Wellness Quotient.

patients’ beds, or beside the examination or operation theater tables, should also be adjustable to enhance easy accessibility.

Considering the long hours spent on the job, workspaces must be optimally designed to support ergonomics, efficiency, access, comfort, and productivity The creation of collaborative multi-use areas that serve as a silent space for individual work areas, staff meeting spaces, and break stations will go a long way in improving the health ofNPs.

The participation of nurses in the design or redesign of their workspaces is crucial to make them feel involved. It can act as a motivator and enabler of high-quality performance. Besides being a key work design criterion, participation is also an important characteristic of any big change.

ACPAPPROACH

ASSESSMENT

Evaluating the Ergonomic Quotient of the hospital – In order to identify theVISIBLE & HIDDEN HAZARDS through ergonomic evaluation, conducting a task analysis for nursing staff and evaluating their 360-degree environment is essential.

Ÿ Formal and informal observation of the nurses performing a task

Ÿ Discussing the activities and conditions, which the employees associatewith difficulties

Ÿ Checking injury records ofstaffatwork

Ÿ Check near-miss events and identify factors causing it.

Ÿ Observing the physical environment for any hidden hazard like wires of electrical equipment placed on the ground in an unsafe manner

CORRECTION

Removal ofHAZARDS –

Ÿ Improving integration of the workplace and workforce

Ÿ Conducting Ergonomic Awareness Workshops, involving training for nurses about faulty body positions and awkward postures that they generally adopt

Ÿ Training about good ergonomic body postures to be adoptedwhile carrying out the tasks

Ÿ Training about safe transfer techniques using good body postures

Ÿ Advice on taking appropriate breaks in between work hours (alternate between standing and sitting tasks)

Ÿ Advice on general nutritional care, personal hygiene and health, and simple exercises atwork

PREVENTION

We can offer passive prevention in the form of circulating wellness tips among the nursing staff These consist of specific problem areas that we have understood during our interaction and observation and giving simple solutions in the form of pictorial illustrations so that it becomes easy for them to register and remember

We aim at generating a happy and healthy workforce by educating them and making them aware of the ergonomic importance so that they can have healthy and motivatingworkplaces.

About Godrej Interio

Godrej Interio (GI) is India’s leading furniture brand in both the home and institutional segments. GI aims to transform spaces to create brighter homes and offices with aesthetic, functional, and technology-driven products that retain a special focus on health and ergonomics. GI’s product portfolio covers:

I B2B – Office Modular Furniture, Turnkey Projects, Healthcare Furniture, Lab Furniture, AV and Vending Solutions

ii B2C – Home Furniture & Storage, Mattress, and Kitchens

Disclaimer

GI is widely known for its comprehensive sustainability certifications for furniture products. Currently present in over 650 cities with 250 exclusive showrooms and 800 dealers, GI is one of the largest divisions of Godrej and Boyce Mfg. Co Ltd., part of the Godrej Group, one of India's largest engineering and customer product groups.

More information is at

https://www godrejinterio com/Godrejinterio/index.as px

This paper represents the opinions of the authors and is the product of professional research. This report has been prepared for the exclusive use and benefit of the addressee(s) and solely for the purpose for which it is provided. Unless we provide express prior written consent, no part of this report should be reproduced or distributed. While every attempt is made to ensure that the information contained in this document is true to its best. However, Godrej and Boyce Mfg. Co Ltd., its employees, representatives, affiliates or any of its divisions, etc. shall not be responsible for any reliance made on this paper or for any errors / omissions in information obtained from the sourcewhile preparing this paper

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https://www healthcaredesignmagazine.com/trends/architecture/staff-support-designing-optimal-healthcarework-environments/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4629843