Do you ever wonder why nurses wear compression socks to work?
Compression socks can help reduce weight and leg fatigue for nurses. With compression socks, the blood circulation in the legs improves. Higher blood flow results in more oxygen, as well as more nutrition for the legs.
Nurses Have an Amazing Profession of Caring
A nurse is a health care practitioner who works on their own or under the supervision of a surgeon, physician, or dentist. Hence, nurses are experts in promoting and maintaining health. They differ from other health practitioners in their approach to patient care, training, and scope of practice.
Nursing is a demanding profession. Physical labor, emotional labor, a heavy workload, the surroundings, shift work, and a variety of other factors all contribute to stress among nurses. When caring for patients, most nurses would have to stand for long periods of time.
What distinguishes this care profession from others?
It’s incredible to watch nurses who are so dedicated to their jobs. Most of us who are reading this have jobs that require us to sit in front of a computer screen for long periods of time. Sitting in front of a screen for hours on end is exhausting for me.
However, for nurses, it is the polar opposite!
A nurse’s profession may require standing for numerous hours. Likewise, it also includes stressful days. Many occupations, such as cashiering or bartending, require standing. Nurses, on the other hand, have it even worse. They are constantly attending to someone or doing a task while standing up or going around the block.
In an emergency, their assistance is critical, and there is always a rush. Most nurses suffer from physical and emotional ailments as a result of the demands of their jobs. They may also get joint pains as a result of the number of hours they spend sprinting around the hospital.
I wouldn’t last a minute if I placed myself in nurses’ shoes. We must give credit where it is due. So, whenever you encounter a nurse, remember to keep a cheerful attitude when speaking with them. Even if you’ve had a bad day, they’ve undoubtedly had a worse one.
Always be grateful for their services, especially now that COVID-19 has made their duties more difficult than ever.
Advantages to Nurses When They Wear Compression Socks:
As previously stated, staying on your feet for lengthy periods of the day is not an easy task. Most notably for nurses who work long shifts, not to mention the stress they face.
Here are some of the advantages to nurses when they wear compression socks:
- increase circulation in your legs
- blood does not pool in your leg due to the presence of support veins. Leg edema is reduced by veins.
- minimize orthostatic hypotension, which causes lightheadedness or unsteadiness on standing assistance avoid venous ulcers
- avoid developing deep vein thrombosis in your legs
- assist in reducing the pain caused by varicose veins
- venous reversal hypertension
- enhance lymphatic drainage
How do compression socks function?
Compression stockings put pressure on your legs and ankles, which can lead to:
- help increase the volume and velocity of blood flow to shrink the diameter of major veins
- aid in the flow of blood up to the heart
- aid in preventing blood from recirculating downward to the foot or laterally into superficial veins
Attention, Nurses Who Wear Compression Socks, Take Note of These Side Effects:
Check your legs daily for regions of skin change, such as discomfort or redness, if your doctor has prescribed compression stockings. These variations could indicate:
- If your stockings do not fit properly
- you are not correctly putting on or taking off your socks.
- an indication of an illness
- or you are allergic to the stocking material
- it is critical that you obtain a good prescription and wear compression stockings and socks correctly.
According to a 2014 case report Trusted Source, poorly worn compression stockings can cause complications such as skin breakdown. A 2007 study revealed instances of peripheral nerve injury caused by improper compression stocking use.
In a report in 2014 published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, utilizing compression stockings can aggravate ischemia, or insufficient oxygenated blood flow, if you have compromised arterial flow.
Nurses benefit when they wear compression socks, so does people with the following medical conditions, too.
A physician would often prescribe treatment to alleviate all symptoms of chronic venous disease and to avoid future venous problems. Compression stockings are advised in the following circumstances:
1. Pedal edema
The collection of fluid in the feet and lower legs is known as pedal edema. It is typically the outcome of one of two processes. The first is venous edema, which is characterized by enhanced capillary filtration and retention of protein-poor venous fluid in the interstitial space.
2. Lymphedema
Lymphedema is a condition that causes swelling in one of your arms or legs. Sometimes, both arms or legs swell. It is most frequently caused by lymph node excision or injury during cancer treatment.
3. Phlebitis
Phlebitis is a medical term for “vein inflammation.” The vein becomes inflamed as a result of blood clotting within it or as a result of injury to the vein walls. The phrase “superficial thrombophlebitis” refers to an inflamed vein near the skin’s surface (often a varicose vein) caused by a blood clot.
4. Varicose vein
Varicose veins are veins that bulge and twist. They are common complications of damaged vein walls and valves. Varicose veins may occur if the pressure in your veins rises.
5. Deep vein thrombosis
DVT is a dangerous medical disorder that happens when a blood clot forms in a vein located deep within the body. A blood clot is a clump of blood that has solidified. Deep vein blood clots commonly form in your lower leg, but they can grow in other locations of your body.
6. Chronic venous insufficiency
Chronic venous insufficiency occurs when the veins in your legs do not enable blood to return to the heart. Normally, vein valves ensure that blood flows toward the heart. However, when these valves fail to function properly, blood can also flow backward. This can cause blood to pool in your legs.
What other measures may nurses take to take care of their feet and legs aside from to get them to wear compression socks?
Apart from compression socks, it’s critical to protect your feet and legs with the proper footwear.
Simply wearing compression socks and the appropriate shoes will alleviate a great deal of the agony associated with foot and leg issues. We recommend running shoes for nurses. Make an appointment at your neighborhood shoe store to get fitted for a pair of high-quality, appropriate shoes that are a good fit for you.
Conclusion:
Compression socks are proven to provide comfort for the legs and feet. They improve blood flow, reduce edema in the foot, and alleviate muscle pain. Compression socks are also used to treat varicose veins and other issues that may arise as a result of prolonged standing. These are the kind of benefits that nurses require.
Aside from wearing compression socks to treat leg pain, stretching the muscles can aid boost blood flow. You can also ice sore feet. An icing might help you feel refreshed. Leg and foot massages help reduce pains and sores. To minimize inflammation and enhance blood flow, raise your legs while you relax. Walking is better when nurses wear comfortable shoes that put less stress on their feet. Running shoes are the most comfortable and best shoes for work, where you have to walk or run constantly. Wearing uncomfortable shoes may lead to sores and blisters.
Nurses assume a great duty to serve and care for patients. It is a very time-consuming and stressful job. Working on your feet all day and caring for the sick for extended hours (sometimes 12 hours) is a serious profession.
However, nurses do not dislike their jobs. Nurses love their work. They are prepared to sacrifice their lives for the good of others. When you think of nurses, be thankful for their services.
