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To the Editor: In their article on the nursing shortage, Drs Berliner and Ginzberg¹ did not address the physical demands of nursing. The increased risk of musculoskeletal injuries is a significant reason for people not wanting to enter the profession, for nurses not wanting to work in nursing homes and hospitals, and for injured nurses to leave the profession. The authors did state that " . . . answers to these problems seem to be to increase the number of assistive staff to help moderate some of the more strenuous physical demands of the job . . . ." However, lifting even a small patient far exceeds the 51-pound weight load for ideal conditions recommended by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.² Our research³ and experience shows that introducing the right type and amount of patient care technology into clinical settings is far superior to increasing the numbers . . . [Full Text of this Article]

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