According to various sources, there are about 3 million registered nurses in the U.S., and according to the American Nurses Association, they are under serious pressure in today's health care reality. As the ANA website notes:1
A recent study2 found that a large percentage of nurses suffer from "musculoskeletal symptoms (MSS)." In their survey, the investigators discovered that "the low back (57%), shoulder (52%), and neck (48%) were identified as the most affected regions." The study concludes that the nursing workers who were evaluated reflected a high prevalence of MSS; previous history of sick leave was strongly associated with the presence of symptoms in various body regions; and that these results indicate the need for preventive programs in the hospital environment to control more severe MSS in nursing professionals.
Many other studies support these findings. The authors note that "WRMDs (work-related musculoskeletal disorders) are highly prevalent among nursing professionals3-5 and the most frequent complaints are low back pain, with a prevalence rate of 30 to 60%,3,4,6-10 followed by the neck and shoulder symptoms, with prevalence rates of 30 to 48% and 43 to 53%, respectively."6,8-11
Obviously, nurses desperately need chiropractic care. If we reached out and took care of the 3 million nurses in this country, every DC would need to care for at least 50 nurses just to meet that need. Seems like a great opportunity.
If I were a DC looking for new patients, I would declare next week "Nurses Appreciation Week" and offer every nurse in my local hospital / medical center a free 3-minute massage as a way of expressing my appreciation for all they do. (If you don't have a massage therapist, hire one for the week. You may even find they are a valuable long-term addition to your staff.) I would pass around fliers, send emails and post announcements on my website, Twitter and Facebook to ensure the word got around.
As my massage therapists provided care for the nurses, they would encourage them to let me conduct a free spinal exam as appropriate. This would give me the opportunity to provide further care, as well as educate lots of nurses about the power of chiropractic.
Some of these nurses would likely become some of my best patients. They have a great need and are sensitive to their health. But that's only the beginning. At the end of the week, I would have a "compassionate pipeline" of appreciated nurses who understand the value of chiropractic and feel comfortable referring their patients to me.
Hmmm; rather than hold a "Nurses Appreciation Week" only once a year, maybe I should do it quarterly...
References
Read more findings on my blog: http://blog.toyourhealth.com/wrblog/. You can also visit me on Facebook.
When sports chiropractors first appeared at the Olympic Games in the 1980s, it was alongside individual athletes who had experienced the benefits of chiropractic care in their training and recovery processes at home. Fast forward to Paris 2024, where chiropractic care was available in the polyclinic for all athletes, and the attitude has now evolved to recognize that “every athlete deserves access to sports chiropractic."
It is estimated that 61% of patients with CTS avoid taking surgical options due to postoperative complications and costly surgical procedures. Chiropractic care offers a comprehensive and effective treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome, addressing the condition from multiple angles. Recent studies also have unveiled a game-changing adjunct to chiropractic treatments for CTS: nerve flossing.
Some doctors thrive in a personality-based clinic and have a loyal following no matter what services or equipment they offer, but for most chiropractic offices who are trying to grow and expand, new equipment purchases help us stay relevant and continue to service our client base in the best, most up-to-date manner possible. So, regarding equipment purchasing: should you lease, get a bank loan, or pay cash?
