Health Care Workers at High Risk for Back Injuries
According to the U.S. Department of Labor in 2002, registered nurses were the sixth most likely employees to suffer work-related musculoskeletal disorders, while nursing aides, orderlies and attendants ranked second. Truck drivers are most at-risk, while non-construction laborers were third on the list.
A recent American Nurses Association (ANA) study showed that 52% of nurses complain of chronic back pain and that 12% leave the profession, citing back pain as a major factor. Another 20% transfer to a different unit, out of direct care or to other employment because of back problems, as well as neck and shoulder injuries.
As a result, many hospitals have implemented no-lift policies in their facilities - helping to reduce the risk of injuries among its caregivers and also retain critical health care worker staff - all while improving the patient experience.
Resources:
 Healthcare Awareness by Midmark Corporation, October 1, 2006. Lifting Patients/ Residents/ Clients in Health Care Washington State 2005 Report to the Washington State Legislature House Committee, January, 2006;
Watching Our Backs -- RN's Get A Lift from "No Lift Policies", - Nurse Week, June 19, 2006.
Safe Patient Handling Program Enacted Into Law
The State of Texas passed TX SB 1525, the first state legislation signed into law requiring hospitals and nursing homes to implement a safe patient handling and movement program.
The Texas Nurses Association has worked long and hard on passage of this important legislation which was signed by Texas Governor Rick Perry June 17, 2005, and will take effect January 1, 2006.
With Texas being the first state to succeed with passage of legislation, a number of other states continue working toward legislative protection of healthcare workers against preventable injury from manual patient lifting.
Eventually, all of the United States will mandate safe patient handling practices like those already in place in countries more advanced in protecting nurses and patients against injury from manual lifting.
For the most recent updates regarding Safe Patient Handling legislation in other states, please visit:
or contact Anne Hudson, RN, BSN,
Anne@wingusa.org,
Work Injured Nurses Group USA
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These patient transfer rollers allow one or two staff members to move a dependent patient from one surface to another with little effort. Greatly reduce the risk of back injuries with this device.