Knowledge and Practice Regarding Proper Body Mechanics During Nursing Practice Among First-Year B.Sc. Nursing Students at A Selected College, Palakkad

Abstract

The present study was conducted to assess the knowledge and practice regarding proper body mechanics during nursing practice among first-year B.Sc. Nursing students. A quantitative research approach with a descriptive research design was adopted for the study. The study was conducted among 30 first-year B.Sc. Nursing students in a selected nursing college, who were selected using a purposive sampling technique. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and an observational checklist to assess knowledge and practice related to the principles of body mechanics, posture, lifting techniques, and prevention of musculoskeletal injuries during nursing procedures. The collected data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics such as frequency, percentage, and correlation. The findings revealed that 20 (66.7%) students had an average level of knowledge, while 10 (33.3%) had good knowledge regarding proper body mechanics. Regarding practice, 28 (93.3%) students demonstrated good practice and 2 (6.7%) demonstrated average practice. A strong positive correlation was found between knowledge and practice (r = 0.78, p = <0.001), indicating that better knowledge was associated with better practice of proper body mechanics. The study highlights the importance of continuous education and practical training to strengthen knowledge and promote safe nursing practices among students.