Nursing Science Basics

Many people associate caregiving work with physically demanding labor. One major reason is the significant strain placed on the body—especially the lower back. Low back pain is reported to affect nearly 90% of care workers in Japan. At the welfare equipment exhibition I attended last month, I noticed a clear increase in transfer robots and sit-to-stand assistive devices compared to previous years. This reflects the growing recognition of the benefits of mechanizing transfer-related tasks. In this article, I explain the current situation and challenges of transfer assistance, and why these movements place substantial physical burden on both caregivers and care recipients.

In a previous article, I wrote about one method for reducing pain from injections: using thinner needles. You can read that article here → Needle Design Innovations for Less Painful Injections The idea was that thinner needles cause less stimulation to the pain receptors in the skin, reducing the pain at the moment of insertion. However, focusing solely on needle thickness is not enough to ensure a truly painless injection. One essential factor involved is pressure. In this article, I’ll explore the concept of pressure from a nursing perspective and examine how it plays a role in injections, IV infusions, and pressure ulcer care. What Is Pressure?