Protecting Individuals.
Prioritizing Recovery.

How patient care can lead to nurse injuries at work 

On Behalf of | Jan 20, 2025 | workplace injuries

Nurses essentially dedicate themselves to the well-being of others. They spend years going to school to pursue their careers and have to continue their educations until they retire. They often make personal sacrifices because of the demanding schedules required by medical employers. 

They also have a higher-than-average risk of injury when compared with many other employees. How does caring for other people put a nurse at risk of injury? 

The potential for violence

People can become quite volatile in a medical setting. They may react negatively to a poor prognosis. They could have a bad reaction to a medication. Some people have dementia or mental health challenges that make them volatile. They may lash out at the very professionals trying to help them. 

The need to provide physical support

Nursing often involves physically lifting or moving patients and helping them accomplish necessary tasks. As average body weight has increased, the risk of helping patients with mobility issues has increased as well. 

Nurses can damage their joints through repetitive actions or can suffer traumatic injuries while lifting patients or providing them with physical support in a medical setting. Nurses can also injure themselves while rushing to provide patient care when someone requires support in a medical facility. Patients can also serve as disease vectors by exposing nurses to infectious materials. 

Nurses with medical conditions and injuries related to their work may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. Having support while seeking benefits can help nurses get the assistance they need to recover so that they can get back to the careers they love.

 

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