I get tons of calls from people injured in the health care field, especially nurses. Nurses seem to be incredibly susceptible to injury because of all the variables in their workplace and all of the different situations they can encounter. I have the utmost respect for nurses; I think it takes a special kind of person to do that job and I am always eager to help a nurse in need of some guidance being injured on the job. After all, you never know when you may be in need of a nurse’s care someday!!
“Healthcare workers as a whole are more likely to experience a musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) than workers in construction mining or manufacturing” (Centers for Disease Control).
I reviewed some information from www.nursingworld.org and from the American Nurses Association and it seems that most injuries are caused by patient contact; usually lifting a patient, repositioning a patient or even being attacked by an unruly patient.
Common Work Injuries in the Nursing Field
- Needle Stick Injuries (some resulting in infectious disease)
- Back Injuries
- Neck Injuries
- Shoulder Injuries
- Assault
- Chemical Exposure
- Developing a Latex Allergy
Nurses especially need to be familiar with their employer’s policies and procedures when an injury occurs on the job. Do some research and find out who the injury should be reported to, where you can get medical care, who the workers’ compensation insurance company is and any forms that need to be filled out. And as always, REPORT INJURIES RIGHT AWAY! I cannot tell you how many times I have been contacted by a nurse who did not report a minor pain in their back, neck or shoulder only to find out later that something is seriously wrong. Don’t take that chance, your future and your career may depend on it!
Being educated on how to handle a work injury could be the difference between having an injury claim approved or denied by workers’ compensation.
If you would like more information on the Virginia Workers’ Compensation system or if you have been injured while working in the healthcare field, order my book, “The Ultimate Guide to Workers’ Compensation in Virginia” by clicking this link, or call our office today (804) 755-7755.
~Author
Michele Lewane, Esq.
