Nurse’s Corner: On-the-Job Injuries

With more than 3.1 million registered nurses in the United States, nursing is this country’s largest health care profession. The job is widely respected and is extremely important for the successful care and treatment of patients. Unfortunately, the nursing profession is not without its health and injury risks.  In fact, the CDC reports that the rate of musculoskeletal injuries caused by overexertion is higher in healthcare occupations than in any other industry. Hospital workers are injured at a rate that is twice that of the average of all professions, and for nursing home workers, the rate is three times higher.

The Grueling Demands of the Job

Nobody can deny that nursing can be a very demanding job that includes a lot of physical exertion.  Any time you over-exert yourself, you are at greater risk of workplace injuries. In an article about nursing injuries, Professional Safeguard Resources® lists some of the factors responsible for injuries and illnesses suffered by nurses. These include:

• Frequent long and demanding shifts
• Fatigue caused by standing for long periods of time
• The need to take on the work of two people due to inadequate staffing
• Larger patient loads per shift due to the increased longevity of the elderly
• Inadequate enforcement and monitoring of patient weight handling procedures by management
• Employer/employee lack of education on the use of appropriate biomechanics as applied during lifting, moving, supporting, turning and transporting patients

Patient lifting and moving has become even more difficult in recent years as the average weight of Americans has been continuously increasing and the morbidly obese are more likely to need medical care.

What to Do if You Are Injured on the Job

When injured, many nurses try to just work through the pain in the hopes that it will go away on its own. Sometimes this is because understaffing necessitates them to do so, and sometimes it is because they fear for the security of their jobs if they complain. Unfortunately, this often leads to even more severe injuries. So what should you do if injured at work?

The U.S. Department of Labor advises that you pay attention to your body. If you feel any of the following symptoms, you need to take action before they become a serious problem:

• Aching
• Sharp pain
• Dull pain
• Pain that comes and goes
• Hot, inflamed feeling
• Tingling
• Unusual tightness
• Unusual muscle weakness or fatigue

In the event that you have any of the above listed symptoms, OSHA recommends that you take the following steps:

• Document everything – File a report with your employer
• Keep track of important information – doing so may lead to changes in the workplace that can eliminate future similar injuries.
• Speak out – Make sure that supervisory staff is aware of the injury. Do not keep unsafe workplace practices to yourself
• Seek medical attention – At the sign of any type of workplace injury, you should file a worker’s compensation claim and see a doctor immediately. Do not wait for your claim to be processed. This will provide proof that your job contributed to your injury and help you heal faster

Sometimes your nurse’s union, co-workers or management can make the necessary changes to make your workplace a safer one to work in. OSHA reminds injured workers that it is against the law for your employer to fire or discriminate against you because of a workplace injury or worker’s compensation claim.

Having the Proper Equipment Is Key to Preventing Workplace Injuries

An article in the New York Times reported that about three-quarters of all nurses surveyed experienced some type of physical pain from a muscle sprain or strain suffered on the job.  These injuries aren’t just bad for the nurses; they are bad for patients as well. This is because when nurses are in pain, their quality of work may suffer.

Some workplaces mandate safe-lifting practices and offer training in techniques that can be used to prevent workplace injuries. Unfortunately, training is not enough to prevent strains and injuries. Having, and properly using, the appropriate equipment is typically the only way to prevent strains caused by heavy lifting.

The American Nurses Association (ANA) warns that:

• Body mechanics training alone is not effective in preventing injuries
• There is no evidence that the use of back-belts is effective at preventing injuries
• Physically fit nurses are just as likely to be injured on the jobs as those who are less fit

The ANA strongly recommends that hospitals and surgical centers invest in mechanical lifts. While expensive, the ANA argues that “the long-term benefits of proper equipment far outweigh the costs related to work-related injuries.”

Take Care of Yourself as Well as You Take Care of Your Patients

Many nurses love their jobs. They enjoy caring for patients and helping them obtain the best possible quality of life. But when it comes to their own health and safety, they tend to be a bit less vigilant. When you are feeling good and are injury-free, you can do your job to the best of your ability.

Remember, though you may feel that nursing is your life, it is your job. Make sure you are strong and healthy to enjoy life to the fullest while you are not at work.