Three Cheers … and Chairs … on National Certified Nurses Day
On March 19, 2022, MacGill wishes the school nurse community a happy National Certified Nurses Day. You devote yourself to student care day in and day out. You deserve some care, too. What are you doing for your own health and wellness? In celebration of National Certified Nurses Day, we hope you will take a moment to focus on you: take time for a healthy meal, go for a quiet walk, connect with a friend.
One way to focus on your own care is by taking a look at your office environment, specifically your seating. Believe it or not, appropriate seating in your office can have a significant impact on your health and wellness.
Impact of Poor Seating
Improper seating has been associated with pain and discomfort, including:
- back, hip and neck pain.
- wrist pain, including carpal tunnel syndrome.
- headaches.
- fatigue.
According to Cleveland Clinic, improper seating can even increase your risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Mayo Clinic adds weight gain, depression, dementia, and multiple cancers to the list of risks of prolonged sitting.
Healthy Sit Tips
Take a moment to adjust your positioning when you take a seat.
- Ensure that your feet rest flat on the ground or on a footrest. A chair or stool with the ability to adjust height can help.
- Avoid crossing your legs while sitting so that you can keep your knees about hip level or lower with the back of your knees not pushed right up against the chair.
- Support your lower back by adjusting your chair or adding a small pillow.
- Keep your shoulders relaxed. If your seating has adjustable armrests, be sure they’re positioned such that your shoulders maintain a relaxed position.
- On those rare days when your time is not filled with student care and you find yourself seated for long periods of time, perhaps processing attendance, checking physicals or completing other paperwork, take breaks from sitting. Stand up, stretch and move around a bit.
- For a temporary alternative to chairs and stools, sit on a fitness ball, but don’t rely on a fitness ball alone for seating. According to the Mayo Clinic, “prolonged balancing on a fitness ball during a full day of work … may lead to increased fatigue and discomfort in your back.”
Chair and Stool Options
As you adjust your posture for healthier sitting, evaluate if your current chair or stool works for you. Consider alternative seating.
- If you share seating with other nurses in your nurses office, consider seating that can be adjusted for multiple users, like the Alera Elusion Series Mesh Office/Task Chair or one of MacGill’s adjustable stools.
- Find a chair with optional lumbar support, like the Alera Elusion Series Mesh Office/Task Chair or a stool with a backrest, like the Adjustable Five Leg Stool (with backrest).
- Consider replacing your chair with one that relieves pressure on your legs, like the Alera Elusion Series Mesh Office/Task Chair.
- A chair with adjustable arms, like the Alera Elusion Series Mesh Office/Task Chair, allows you to achieve the relaxed shoulder position recommended by experts.
- A stool with a thick seat, like the Adjustable Five Leg Stool (with or without backrest) or Chrome Base Space Blue Stool, provides added comfort.
Whether you decide to take a load off with a new chair or stool or simply take a walk, we hope you take a few moments to take care of yourself on National Certified Nurses Day - and every day. With all you do for students, you deserve health, wellness, and, of course, a good chair.
