Nursing involves patient care, often requiring constant movement and interaction with patients and medical equipment. These workplace conditions can expose nurses to work-related injuries.
If you work in health care, knowing the most common injuries can help you spot potential risks during your shift and avoid them. It can also help you understand your rights if a job-related injury affects your health or income.
Physical risks nurses usually face
As a nurse, you work in an environment that presents physical and patient-related risks. The effects of those hazards may vary depending on the circumstances. Some injuries can happen in a single moment, while others develop over time. Common examples include:
- Back, shoulder and other musculoskeletal injuries: Moving patients, helping with transfers and bending over beds may strain your muscles and discs. These injuries often affect the lower back, neck and shoulders.
- Slip-and-fall injuries: Wet floors and loose cords can create dangerous walking paths. A sudden fall can leave you with bruises, fractures or head trauma.
- Needlestick and sharp-object injuries: A needle stick or cut from a sharp tool can expose you to bloodborne diseases. These risks often arise during injections, blood draws or disposal of used equipment.
- Violence-related injuries: Some patients become confused or aggressive during care. You could suffer cuts, broken bones or emotional trauma during these incidents.
- Repetitive stress injuries: Typing and repeated clinical tasks can strain the hands, wrists and arms. Over time, this can lead to tendinitis or carpal tunnel syndrome.
These risks do not affect every nurse in the same way. According to a report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, registered nurses older than 45 experienced more occupational injuries and illnesses than younger nurses. Their cases also generally involved more days away from work.
When an injury happens on the job, workers’ compensation benefits may apply. However, obtaining coverage typically requires workers to meet certain reporting deadlines. In South Carolina, injured workers must notify their employer about a workplace injury within 90 days of the accident.
Protecting your health after a workplace injury
A work-related injury can affect your body and financial stability. Since these effects may extend beyond the initial incident, documenting the circumstances of the injury often becomes important. Medical records, incident reports and timely employer notice may support that account.
These details can play an important role in the workers’ comp claim process. Job injury cases may involve deadlines and disputes over benefits, so legal guidance can help you understand the options available under the law.