If you were to ask people about the most dangerous jobs, they might talk about commercial fishing or construction work.
Nurses almost never make the list of those most at risk, as on-the-job fatalities are rare among those working in the medical field. However, workplace injury statistics make it quite clear that nursing professionals get hurt more frequently than many others.
Some research shows that nurses are six times as likely as members of the general public to develop a serious back injury. A nurse with back pain may soon be a nurse that can no longer do their job, which is why workers’ compensation benefits are so important.
Back pain often gets worse if ignored
Whether you hurt yourself when lifting a very heavy patient who couldn’t get out of bed on their own or you have slowly developed worsening pain because of your repetitive job responsibilities, your back pain could be a real issue for your future employment. You need to be able to move quickly and support patients to do your job, and your back pain may stop you from doing that.
If you make a workers’ compensation claim, you can get medical care for your injury and also disability pay if you take time off of work. A leave of absence may be the only way to reduce your pain level and regain control over your symptoms. Nurses that ignore their back pain may have their symptoms reach a point where they can no longer continue in their profession anymore.
Taking your back pain seriously and getting workers’ compensation benefits may help you continue to support yourself and the patients that depend on you for care.
