Nurses Are Especially Susceptible to Work Related Injuries

Nurses are, many times, the front line of most medical facilities. Their responsibilities require proper skills to face some of the most unexpected challenges. Sadly, caring for their patients’ health and safety can leave many nurses at risk for many work related injuries.

Recent studies show an increase of on-the-job injuries among nurses.

• According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1 in 5 work related injuries happen among workers in the medical profession, and medical care providers are injured more frequently than in all other professions.

Nurses and nursing assistants were ranked highest, with their most common juries being:

• Slip, Trips, and Falls

• Patient Violence

• Patient Handling

Being in the medical profession is highly demanding and often causes workers to feel depressed and anxious. Many begin to develop eating disorders and have difficulty sleeping.

Are Hospitals Doing Enough to Protect Medical Assistants?

Recent studies found that hospital administrators ranked nursing injuries low on their list of importance. While hospital administrators are conscious of the constant exposure to injury, they have done little or nothing to actually address the subject.

As hospital administrators have continued to ignore the issue, the American Nursing Association (ANA) has expedited policies to identify the occupational risks nurses face and address the work-related exposures to injuries.

Options for Medical Assistants Who Have Experienced a Work Related Injury

If you are a nurse or nursing assistant who has been injured while working in South Carolina, there are two ways you may be able to collect compensation for your injuries.

• The first is by filing a workers’ compensation claim with your employer. Under the South Carolina workers’ compensation laws, you may be eligible for benefits such as payment of medical expenses, partial reimbursement of lost wages, and ongoing disability payments for injuries you suffered on the job, regardless of whether your employer was directly liable for those injuries.

• The second may be to file a civil action, in certain circumstances. Under the South Carolina Code of Laws, Section 15-3-530(5), you may be eligible to file a personal injury claim if you suffered an injury as the result of an act of violence by a patient or family member.

If you are a nursing professional who has been injured on the job and are unsure how to go about getting compensated for your expenses and lost wages, contact Steinberg Law Firm today! Our workers’ compensation lawyers will help you file your claim and figure out whether or not you could have the grounds for a lawsuit against any third parties.

Contact us at 843-720-2800 for a free case review.