Due to demographic change and an ageing society, the caregiver professions, which
are already marked by a shortage of skilled workers, are facing an ever-increasing
challenge. In addition, nurses report lower periods of time in their profession, i.e.,
an above-average number of days of incapacity for work and a 40 % increase in sick
leave compared to the averages of other sectors. These are all indicators that nurses
are exposed to high physical and psychological stress. Study data confirm the finding
that nurses with 2.5 Metabolic Equivalent (MET) have nearly twice as much energy consumption
as people in sedentary occupations (1.3 MET). The nursing professions are also quite
demanding with regard to the quality of movement. For example, the majority of nursing
staff state that they regularly have to lift loads of more than 20 kg and that they
are exposed to such loads for years. In order for the nursing staff to deal with these
tasks without overstraining themselves, their resilience should be strengthened through
health promotion measures at the workplace. Thanks to the Nursing Staff Strengthening
Act, a statement has been issued by the Federal Government since 2019, which allows
this demand to be met proactively.
