Industrial hygienic study on nursing activities investigation on heart rate and energy expenditure of cranial nerves and ICU ward nurses.

Using a Holter electrocardiograph (ECG), we calculated the heart rates of ward nurses during day shifts, a time in which various activities are undertaken. Energy expenditures were calculated from the heart rate data and nursing workloads were evaluated. The following results were obtained. 1) The energy expenditures per day were 3302 kcal in the cranial neurology ward, 3064 kcal in the ICU. 2) The energy expenditures during working hours were 1976 kcal for the day shift (510 minutes) in the cranial neurology ward, 1744 kcal in the ICU, 1867 kcal for the evening shift (495 min) in the cranial neurology ward, 1645 kcal for the evening shift in the ICU and 1947 kcal for the night shift (570 min) in the cranial neurology ward, 1839 kcal for the night shift in the ICU. 3) The highest energy expenditures for different activities were 949 kcal (78.0%) for day shift in direct nursing care in the cranial neurology ward, 722 kcal (43.8%) for the evening shift in assisting with medical examination and treatment in the ICU, 754 kcal (41.0%) for the night shift in assisting with medical examination and treatment in the ICU ward. 4) The longest working hours were 217 min (48.0%) for the day shift in direct nursing care in the cranial neurology ward, 252 min (50.9%) for the evening shift, 234 min (41.0%) for the night shift in assisting with medical examination and treatment in the ICU. The results indicate that the energy expenditures of ward nurses are higher than those of other workers. The reasons for this difference are discussed in this report.