Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Faculty Publications Article Faculty Publications -Articles Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Patangia, Bishal; Srinivasan, Priyadarshini Moharkonda; Lee, Michelle Chin Chin Title A name given to the resource We just keep pushing through: a mixed-method study on musculoskeletal discomfort and mental well-being among nurses in resource-limited settings Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 01-01-2025 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived BMC Nursing;Volume;24;Issue;1;Article No.;1301; Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context <a href="https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-025-03698-2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-025-03698-2</a> <br /><br /><a href="https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105019378394?origin=resultslist" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105019378394?origin=resultslist</a> Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Patangia B., School of Psychological Sciences, Christ University, Bangalore, India; Srinivasan P.M., School of Psychological Sciences, Christ University, Bangalore, India; Lee M.C.C., School of Psychology, Massey University, Level 3, Albany Village Library Building, Kell Drive, Auckland, 0632, New Zealand Description An account of the resource Background: Nurses in under-resourced settings frequently report high levels of musculoskeletal (MSK) discomfort, which significantly affects their mental well-being. While workplace strain is well documented, the combined impact of physical burden and institutional neglect remains underexplored in these environments. Aim: The study aims to examine the prevalence of MSK discomfort and its association with psychological well-being among nurses in under-resourced healthcare environments in Northeast India, and to explore the experiential and structural factors contributing to these occupational health risks. Methods: A sequential mixed-methods study design was employed, following an explanatory approach. The study commenced with a survey to gather quantitative data. Quantitative data were collected from 216 nurses using the Extended Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (Extended-NMQ) and the WHO-5 Well-Being Index, the results of which informed the development of subsequent interview questions. Semi-structured interviews were then conducted with 11 nurses to capture experiential and structural factors. This structure enabled deeper contextual understanding and facilitated triangulation across data types. Results: Among the participants, 47.2% reported experiencing lower back pain, followed by discomfort in the knees (27.3%) and upper back (25%). Higher levels of MSK discomfort were significantly associated with employment in the public sector and more than ten years of work experience. A strong negative correlation was observed between MSK discomfort and mental well-being. Thematic analysis revealed key stressors: physical depletion, emotional exhaustion, organizational apathy, and limited healthcare access. In response to these challenges, nurses often relied on self-management due to insufficient institutional support. Triangulated findings underscored how structural deficiencies intensified both physical and psychological strain among nurses. Conclusions: There is an urgent need for evidence-based occupational health interventions to address ergonomic, psychosocial, and institutional challenges, particularly in low-resource healthcare settings, to safeguard the well-being of frontline nursing staff. This study offers novel understanding from a high-need yet under-researched geographic context, namely the northeastern states of India, bridging empirical gaps in MSK health literature through the integration of experiential and structural factors. Clinical trial number: Not applicable. The Author(s) 2025. Subject The topic of the resource Healthcare policy; Mixed methods; Musculoskeletal discomfort; Nursing workforce; Occupational health; Well-being Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available BioMed Central Ltd Relation A related resource ISSN: 14726955; Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Article Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource All Open Access; Gold Open Access; Green Open Access Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource online