Parents are requested to notify the unit two hours in advance if they want to utilize care. For more details on this service, contact Zoch at 4699. If so, you are not alone. Nurses, aides and orderlies in hospitals and nursing homes are injured on the job more often than any type of worker, including those in seemingly dangerous occupations such as trucking and construction. One out of 10 serious work-related injuries involves nursing personnel, and about 12 percent of nurses leave the profession because of back injuries.
Some back injuries are preventable.
A nurse can avoid injury by taking precautions. Prior to moving patients, assess the situation for possible hazards. Determine the ability of the patient to help, and consider the patient s size. Other ways to minimize back injuries are to maintain appropriate body weight, exercise to develop strong abdominal and back muscles, always use proper lifting technique, and employ enough people for the job. When back injuries do occur, be sure to seek early treatment.