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The objective of the present paper was to apply combined research to establish the level of physical workload of nurses employed in the Silesian Hospital in Opava. Methods: Observation, lower extremity load measurement (pedometer, stopwatch), position mapping including sitting, standing, walking, handling patients and trunk flection. Results: Survey results indicate that individual differences exist among nurses working in the internal department for female patients in the Silesian Hospital in Opava, yet the workload is generally high. The workload is influenced by ergonomic arrangements in the workplace, shift work, the number of patients and their self-care deficits, the availability and implementation of aids for patient handling, the number of staff members per shift, as well as co-operation of the staff members. Conclusion: Nurses most frequently bend forward while performing bedside nursing interventions and administrative work, less frequently in morning and evening hygiene, preparatory and finalizing stages of work and during per os medication administration. It is imperative that the strain derived from pathological trunk flection be minimized, especially with optimization of activity and supplementation of missing ergonomic aids. Further, the Back School is recommended.