New York Workers’ Comp Lawyers Discuss The Dangers Of Nursing

Nursing can be a very rewarding job but it can also be a very dangerous one. Thousands of nurses suffer serious injuries every year which can be career ending. Continue reading →

Aug 03, 2016 /prREACH/ -- Every year, thousands of students apply to universities around the country, hoping that they will be accepted into a nursing program which will allow them to pursue a career where they can use their compassion to care for those who need it most. What many of them don’t know is that the work they want to perform is some of the most dangerous in the country.

On any given day, a nurse is exposed to infectious diseases, toxic substances, and patients who, in their disorientation and pain, can become violent. On top of this, due to chronic understaffing in hospitals and a lack of lifting equipment, nurses suffer more joint and back injuries than any other profession. In fact, nearly 50% of all nursing injuries are caused by overexertion and more than half of all American nurses report that they have chronic back pain.

Given the fact that the average workers’ compensation claim for nursing injuries is around $16,000 and that it costs between $27,000 to $103,000 to replace a nurse who can no longer do their job due to an injury, it is surprising that more employers don’t invest time and resources into finding ways to reduce or even eliminate the common causes of these life and career altering injuries. Those that have put the safety of their nurses first have seen huge financial savings, including Stanford University Medical Center, who invested in $800,000 in a safe lifting program and as a result found they saved $2.2 million over 5 years.

It’s important to remember that nursing injuries don’t just impact the workers themselves - it can seriously impact patient care. According to OSHA, studies have shown that patients who are in hospitals where nurses work reasonable hours and are properly supported have higher satisfaction ratings. This is most likely because they are less likely to suffer from falls, skin tears, or rough handling when being lifted.