Learning From Experience

Joanna is the type of nurse every hospital wants and needs. A dedicated individual who describes the vocation as a calling and not a career, Joanna has over 20 years’ experience in departments as diverse as pediatric, critical care, rehabilitation and even emergency care. With a true passion for her work and helping people, she was often awarded and recognized for her outstanding work ethic and the quality of care she provided. Joanna should be a nurse in high demand who gets to reap the rewards of a career steeped in excellence. Then why when asked what she does for a living is she forced to reply, “Until recently, I was a nurse,” with a pause and a sorrowful sigh?

Since multiple work-related back injuries have made it impossible for her to continue, Joanna is now a nurse in transition. In addition to her livelihood, these injuries have affected her ability to do housework, carry groceries and even play with her grandson. There are a staggering number like her.

In a recent focus group, of the nurses participating, nine out of 10 had experienced an injury, and only one had subsequently sought workman’s compensation about it. The others, like Joanna, just dealt with it – until it was no longer bearable to do so. For many – in this industry and even in day-to-day life across the country – we fear asking for help is a sign of weakness. Acquiring help does not make us “lesser than,” and, in fact, it usually brings greater success along with it.

Due to her situation, Joanna has a great deal of insight in the industry, suggesting that you shouldn’t skimp on resources when it comes to your body – especially the vulnerable areas like your back and wrist. Even in an emergency situation, be mindful, speak up and ask for help. Two of Joanna’s injuries occurred during two emergency situations where she needed to move a patient and did not receive the proper support she needed.

No matter the department and situation, be aware of your limits and use tools available to you. Before engaging in any action, take a deep breath and ask yourself what you need to do and how to do it safely for your body and in the very best interest of your patient. Utilize lifting devices or enlist additional nurses to give a hand. If additional staff is not available, this needs to be brought to the attention of your supervisor, who can re-evaluate the staffing situation so no one’s body is at risk.

Above all, be an advocate for your own well-being and for that of others. If we all work together, we can make our shifts safer, our rounds more efficient and our patients’ stays as peaceful and positive as they can be. Speak up when you need help. If we all take action, we can elicit real change.

If the above story sounds all too familiar to you, and you or someone you care about has been hurt on the job in a work related accident, be sure you know your rights and are covered; contact Kimberly Ruch-Alegant, attorney and President of Alegant Law, P.C. for a free consultation today.  Kim is dedicated to representing people who have been injured at work or as a result of an accident and specializes in incidents experienced by health care professionals.

How To Be An Advocate For Your Own Wellbeing

As a nurse or a nurse’s aide, I know you work hard every day taking care of your patients.  But do you take care of yourself?  Don’t wait until you are injured on the job to start taking care of yourself.  Yes, I know your job is to help the patients as much as you can.  But you can’t help them if you’re hurt, can you?  So be sure to speak up when you need help to care for a patient.  Hospitals are understaffed.  Again, I know.  But they’ll have even less people if the staff keep injuring themselves trying to do their jobs with insufficient assistance.  If you need help lifting a patient, don’t let that doctor bully you into doing it by yourself.  Get the help you need.  You know what they say: the best defense is a good offense.

Now how about your home life.  Are you feeling as overworked at home as you are at work?  Well, that’s not good for your health, is it?  Make some changes to get the help you need at home.  When you are stressed at home, you are stressed at work.  There’s no denying it.  We try to leave work at work and home at home, but it doesn’t always happen, does it?  If you leave the house angry or stressed, you’re going to show up at work angry or stressed (unless you learn some techniques to relax during your commute, of course).  Figure out a way to get some help at home.  Kick that lazy husband in the buttocks, get those kids away from the computer.  Worst comes to worst, tell your lazy husband you are going to hire a cleaning lady to help you.  Maybe that will get his butt in gear.

More about the home life, and taking care of yourself.  You would agree that strong healthy bodies don’t get hurt as easily, right?  And if they do they hurt, a strong body heals quicker and easier, right?  So make sure you are eating right to stay healthy, exercising to de-stress, and getting as much sleep as possible for healing and restoration.  (I won’t say “enough” sleep, because I’m sure that won’t happen)  Your beauty rest should take precedence of a dirty kitchen any day.

Now, you can get back to work! :)

If you have been injured on the job and need help, click here to contact Alegant Law.

Work Should Not Hurt

Nurses are injured on the job more than any other profession.  Besides the obvious lifting heavy patients and dealing with the public, why is that?  Could one of the reasons be because nurses can be reluctant to cause a fuss by reporting problems on the job?  Maybe people who report problems are branded as trouble makers.  That could dissuade a person from reporting problems.  Look at what is happening at Temple, where the nurses are standing up for themselves!

But reporting issues does not have to lead to a strike, of course.  Reporting issues is important for several reasons.  When you report issues, preferably in writing and with a suggest solution, you are notifying your employer that there is a problem.  The employer then has to make a decision about how to address the issue.  One form of “addressing” it could be doing nothing.  But at least they have been put on notice that there is an issue, and cannot blame you if you are subsequently injured because of the issue you reported.  Related to that, you are entitled to workers’ compensation even if you are injured doing something that is your own fault. Fault does not come into play with workers’ compensation.

Nursing jobs are very repetitive, which can lead to repetitive stress injuries.  These are work injuries.  An injury does not have to be from a traumatic event.  A work related injury can be as a result of repetition, and such injuries are compensable.  Don’t assume that just because repetition “comes with the territory” that means that you are not entitled to receive workers’ compensation.  To avoid these injuries, vary the method you use to do your tasks as much as possible, and practice proper body mechanics.

Finally, to avoid injury, pay close attention to what your body is telling you.  Avoid taking pain killers to mask symptoms and using other drugs like caffeine and nicotine to keep you going when your batteries have run out.  As you are well aware, the lives of your patients are in your hands.  You need to take care of yourself and be functioning at your best when you are at work.  Make sure you have had enough sleep when you arrive at work.  Listen to what your body is telling you throughout your shift.  Take short breaks to rest when necessary.  A short break will make you more productive and safety conscious over the course of the day as opposed to constantly running when you are already exhausted, and making mistakes resulting in injuries to yourself or your patients.

Healer, heal thyself! (or better yet, take care of thyself)

If you or anyone you know is suffering as a result of a repetitive stress work injury, please call me for a free consultation.