Abstract: The purpose of this study was to gain insight into the possible factors [precipitating back injury in Nurses who had injured their backs during 1985. 23 Nurses were interviewed and factors such as age, years of Nursing, circumstances of injury, why nurses thought the injury had occurred, were examined. Treatment and the effects of the injury on the Nurse were explored. Significant findings were delay in seeking medical assessment when back injury was suspected, and the changes in lifestyle and home and work habits which followed injury. Findings from this study were used to initiate an action study of Nurses lifting patients