Preventative Measures Against Injury in Nursing

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Preventative Measures Against Injury in Nursing

Nursing can be a hazardous and dangerous occupation. A nurse is exposed to various hazards in a health care setting and as a result they have the potential to experience serious injuries and complications. These injuries can be caused by hazards such as sharp objects, hot surfaces, workplace violence, direct contact and manual handling of patients, stress, burnout and faulty electronic equipment, fatigue due to continuous standing work, overexertion, exposure to various dangerous chemicals, in particular medications, cleaning, disinfecting and sterilizing agents and radiation. The most common injuries for nurses includes muscle sprains, back strains and tears (which accounted for approximately 43% of the nursing related injuries between 1995 and 2004), latex allergies, needle stick injuries (NSIs), blood borne infection, radiation and physical abuse injuries resulting from violence. The Bureau of Labour Statistics reports that 800,000 nurses and home health aids were injured between 1995 and 2004 in Australia. During this same period, there were approximately 154 fatalities. Of the approximately 800,000 injured nurses and health aids, 799,004 of those injuries required time off from work to recover (PSR Corporation 2011).
Lower back injuries are the leading occupational health problem affecting nurses and healthcare workers. Hospitals and nursing homes are the top two workplaces for days away from work due to back injuries. About 12 percent of nurses leave the profession annually because of back injuries which just adds to the nurse shortages. The primary risk factor for low back disorders among nursing personnel is lifting and transferring of patients. Nurses should adhere to a ‘No Lift’ approach and prior to commencing any transfer the nurses should consult the appropriate patient mobility plan to determine the

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