In order to clarify the relative metabolic rate (R.M.R.) of the nursing work, oxygen consumption and heart rate during the 28 different nursing works were measured as to four healthy students, aged 19 to 20 years.
The results obtained are as follows;
1) The average of mean heart rate during the each nursing work ranged from 79.6 to 117.8 beats/min. The level of heart rate varied according to the motion of the region used in main movement during works.
2) The average of oxygen intake during the each nursing work ranged from 0.251 to 1.244 l/min. the average of calculated R.M.R. ranged from 0.43 to 2.94. R.M.R. was classified according to the motion of the region used in main movement. R.M.R. of the motion of fingers (swab making) was under 0.5, the motion of hands and forearms (preparation of medication, application of ice pillow, sterilization technique et al.) ranged from 0.6 to 1.0, the motion of hands and arms (mouth care, bathing, shampoo et al.) ranged from 1.1 to 1.5, the motion of arms and upper body in anteflexion (shaving, back care, foot bath et al.) ranged from 1.6 to 2.0 and the motion of whole body (bed bath, bed making, change of position et al.) ranged from 2.1 to 3.0.
3) The correlation between R.M.R. and mean heart rate during the nursing works was statistically significant at 1% level. It is suggested that the intensity of work can be estimated from mean heart rate during nursing work.
View full abstract