Nurses know that their day can change in an instant. In addition to the demands that come with the profession and meeting patient needs, a single wrong move can lead to a serious injury. One moment you are helping a patient sit up or shift for a procedure and the next you feel a sharp pull in your back. Or you round a corner with a medication cart and hit a slick patch on the floor. Nurses spend their days protecting others, but the job also places them among the most frequently injured workers in health care.
Most nursing injuries fall into a few predictable categories tied to physical demands, fast-paced environments and exposure risks. These include injuries due to overexertion, slip and falls and injuries resulting from violent encounters. These issues show up repeatedly in injury reports because they are a part of the daily realities of bedside care.
#1: Overexertion and patient handling injuries
Lifting, repositioning and transferring patients is a leading cause of nurse injuries. Even with training and assistive devices, real-world conditions can make safe body mechanics difficult. Patients may be heavier than expected, unsteady or unable to follow directions. Nurses may also need to react quickly to prevent a fall, which can lead to sudden twisting or awkward lifting.
Common injuries include back strains, shoulder injuries and repetitive stress conditions that worsen over time. These injuries are not always dramatic, but they can be career-altering when pain becomes chronic or mobility is limited and are expensive to treat.
#2: Slips, trips and falls
Hospitals and long-term care facilities are busy, crowded and full of hazards. Spilled liquids, recently mopped floors, cluttered hallways, cords and uneven transitions between surfaces can all contribute to falls. Nurses also move quickly, often while carrying supplies or pushing equipment, which reduces reaction time.
A slip and fall can cause sprains, fractures, knee injuries or head trauma. Even a seemingly minor fall can lead to missed work and ongoing treatment, particularly when it aggravates a prior condition.
#3: Injuries as a result of violence
A patient or one of their family members may lash out during treatment. Even the kindest person can act irrationally when they or a loved one is clearly in pain. Whether the result of this pain or another cause, violent actions are the third most common cause of injury to nurses.
These three causes share one important point: they often happen while nurses are doing exactly what their jobs require.
Medical treatment and wage replacement benefits may be available
If you are injured at work, you are likely eligible for workers’ compensation benefits, regardless of fault. Workers’ comp may cover medical care, partial wage replacement and other benefits depending on the severity of the injury and your state’s rules. Prompt reporting and proper documentation are critical, so it is wise to notify a supervisor immediately and seek medical evaluation as soon as possible.