There are many different ways that nurses can be injured on the job. It could be as simple as a slip and fall accident, which could happen in many different workplaces. But nurses also have some risks that are relatively exclusive to their profession, such as being injured by surgical implements, stuck with a needle or exposed to various ailments and diseases.
On top of all that, however, some reports have shown that violence against nurses has been on the rise. In one report, it was demonstrated that there were roughly two physical attacks toward nurses every single hour. Nurses face a high level of risk of being injured by patients or guests who have come to visit them.
Why does this happen?
Attacks can happen for many different reasons. For example, many nurses who suffered injuries were working with psychiatric patients. A patient who is struggling with mental health issues may be more likely to attack a nurse, perhaps not even understanding what’s happening or that the medical professionals are actually trying to assist them.
But there are also cases where disagreements or disputes just escalate into physical violence. For instance, perhaps family members come to the hospital and disagree with the type of medical care that is being provided to their loved one. This could cause an argument with a nurse who is administering that care, and someone who is already mentally or emotionally unstable may decide that violence is the only way to resolve that dispute. People in this situation are often under a lot of stress and may not be thinking clearly.
But no matter why the attacks happen, it’s clear that nurses are being injured in the course of their employment. Those who have been hurt need to know about all the legal options at their disposal.