Nursing is one of Georgia’s most popular and growing professions. Thousands of nursing students graduate each year and move into this challenging field. But many of these men and women are quickly disillusioned by frequent illnesses and injuries. Avoiding or reducing these potential challenges should be a priority for every nurse and medical facility.
The nature of nursing
Nursing is a particularly strenuous and difficult field. Nurses are paid relatively low wages and do not receive the training and support that doctors do. In return, they are increasingly taking over more aspects of the medical profession. These aspects often involve physical labor. Nurses have to lift patients, carry heavy medical equipment, and transport fluids and medications throughout a hospital. They have to take vitals and perform basic procedures with the aid of medical doctors. All of these activities have the potential for severe injuries that lead to claims for workers’ compensation. The proximity to sick patients also greatly increases the chances of illness.
Common injuries
The most common nursing injuries are related to lifting and moving. Nurses suffer back strains and musculoskeletal injuries from their work. They also work long hours and have a greater chance of making lifting and transport mistakes later on in their shifts. Nurses are subject to chemical burns, accidental drug exposures, and even assaults from patients. These injuries can be serious and often lead to the end of what would otherwise have been long and productive nursing careers.
Nurses have a role to play in reducing these injuries. They need to remain careful and enlist the help of their fellow employees for challenging tasks. But their employers can also help by ensuring their facilities are adequately staffed and have proper procedures and equipment to protect nurses. Both employers and employees must work together to minimize the chances of severe nursing-related injuries and illnesses.