Nurses provide a vital service to people across Rhode Island. They are generally tasked with making people feel better as part of a medical team.
The work is extremely rewarding but it also presents unique challenges. Nurses may treat injuries, but they are not excluded from suffering injuries themselves. Outlined below are some of the more common risks associated with the nursing profession.
The danger of violence
Nurses deal with people from all walks of life and not everyone is always grateful for the care they provide. Thousands of nurses are physically assaulted in the U.S. each year, with many suffering serious injuries as well as emotional distress. Alcohol, substance abuse and certain medical conditions can make patients aggressive sometimes. Hospital management needs to account for this by providing adequate training as well as employing security that can protect people from harm.
Slips, trips and falls
Medical facilities are generally bustling with activity. Nurses have busy caseloads and dozens of patients to attend to each day. This means that a lot of ground needs to be covered, and quickly. If corridors are not clear as nurses make their way around, then an accident becomes extremely likely. Due to the emphasis on hygiene in medical institutions, safety protocol must also be followed when cleaning and mopping floors. For instance, wet areas should be cordoned off or adequately covered with warning signs.
When you are treating patients as a nurse, you have a right to feel safe. If you have been harmed on shift, there may be legal options open to you.