Beware of hand-cranks on hospital beds.....sad.

TazziRN, RN · Jan 20, 2006

Most certainly her injuries and treatment are covered under comp, and if her insurance carrier finds out they are paying for a comp injury, they will not be happy. She should indeed file this as a comp injury and if the supervisor fights it, she should see a labor attorney.

funnygirl_rn2 · Jan 20, 2006

guess what?Iwork in a geri/psysh unit and we just got new beds...yep,YOU guessed it,,,,they are the kind that you have to hand crank . we could not believe it.but what do you expect,,,it only took us a year to get beds with siderails.,,

Sheesh...I guess they don't have the money or maybe don't want to spend the money for electric beds. Hmmmmm, a year to get beds with siderails, I hope you all had floor mats at least!

funnygirl_rn2 · Jan 20, 2006

Most certainly her injuries and treatment are covered under comp, and if her insurance carrier finds out they are paying for a comp injury, they will not be happy. She should indeed file this as a comp injury and if the supervisor fights it, she should see a labor attorney.

Yep, most certainly, and majority of people would know this, however this facility (a chain), thinks they can get over employees who won't open their mouths or question mgt. Some of these employees are so fearful they won't have a job due to cutbacks, so they don't question authority. But, I am sure she has nurses/friends telling her that it is a comp claim. Hope she listens to them.

MMARN, BSN, RN · Jan 20, 2006

Poor nurse. I hope she's okay.

In my lab at school, we have the electric one, but who's to say something like that won't happen. That's pretty scary.

Mave.

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Jan 20, 2006

Please tell this nurse to:

a. File an incident report if not already done by colleagues.

b, Covered under Work Comp laws--she should not use her personal health insurance.

c. Needs to check work comp rules from employer ASAP to ensure seen by a physician listed on approved list.

funnygirl_rn2 · Jan 20, 2006

Please tell this nurse to:
a. File an incident report if not already done by colleagues.
b, Covered under Work Comp laws--she should not use her personal health insurance.
c. Needs to check work comp rules from employer ASAP to ensure seen by a physician listed on approved list.

Thanks Karen & everyone else who posted. I will relay that information. I am getting ready to call my friend who works on the same unit where that occurred. We were talking yesterday & regarding the incident report, the nurse did not fill out an incident report at the time due to the extreme pain that she was in & of course trying to contain bleeding, another nurse filed the incident report out for her.

Lizzie

jimthorp · Jan 20, 2006

I spoke to one my friends today who works on that unit, & she said the nurse that got hurt yesterday evening will have to take sick leave per the DON, no workman's comp.

Well unfortunately for the DON it's not the DON's call. This is a clear case that is covered by worker's compensation. The injured nurse should get herself an worker's compensation attorney and in the suit should include all her legal fees. If I were her I would seek a job elsewhere and when I was cleared to return to work I would resign on the spot.

funnygirl_rn2 · Jan 20, 2006

Well unfortunately for the DON it's not the DON's call. This is a clear case that is covered by worker's compensation. The injured nurse should get herself an worker's compensation attorney and in the suit should include all her legal fees. If I were her I would seek a job elsewhere and when I was cleared to return to work I would resign on the spot.

I hear ya Jim! Myself & fellow nursing friends totally agree with you. This DON who according to my nursing friend who works there f/t, states this woman makes/creates her "own" set of rules & threatens/bullies various staff employees who are afraid of her. She knows who she can intimidate. However, the nurse that got hurt has the support of her fellow co-workers & yessssssss...they are telling her to seek a worker's comp attorney asap! The DON called the injured nurse at home & told her that if she is not back within 2 weeks from her surgery date she "most likely" will not have a job!!!! Can you believe this woman....she must be nuts!!!! This poor nurse can't even have surgery for at least a week...due to the swelling. Anyhow, maybe this nurse will grow a backbone from this result of this unfortunate accident & as you said...contact a worker's comp attorney and when she is cleared to return to work....resign on the spot!!!

jimthorp · Jan 20, 2006

I would also suggest she document all conversations and include the person's name, title, date and time of conversation. When she is called at home and discovers it is the DON or other party, simply ask for permission to record the conversation for "quality control purposes". If they do not agree to this then they must plan on saying something they know is shady. She should politely end the phone conversation and tell her she will be in touch through her attorney.

funnygirl_rn2 · Jan 20, 2006

I would also suggest she document all conversations and include the person's name, title, date and time of conversation. When she is called at home and discovers it is the DON or other party, simply ask for permission to record the conversation for "quality control purposes". If they do not agree to this then they must plan on saying something they know is shady. She should politely end the phone conversation and tell her she will be in touch through her attorney.

Excellent advise Jim! Her friends have told her to record the phone calls, but love the comment for "quality control purposes". Good one! As you said, that way she would know if something is shady, which we all know what the DON's intent is. That ought to get her goad! I want her to fight to the mattress or whatever that saying in the Godfather is...lol!

You know, when I think about her scream that evening, I can't imagine the pain she was in from having a metal apparatus fly full force at her face in such close proximity. I still am amazed that she didn't lose an eye. Thank goodness.

Again, thanks for your info. Will definitely pass that on, RIGHT NOW.

Lizzie

whipping girl in 07, RN · Jan 20, 2006

I spoke to one my friends today who works on that unit, & she said the nurse that got hurt yesterday evening will have to take sick leave per the DON, no workman's comp.

I hope that's just a rumor because I believe that's illegal. She got hurt on the job, they should have worker's comp ins, even if they don't want her to use it. If they give her problems she should sue.

NJLPN · Jan 20, 2006

Last night I was working agency at a local SNF on the rehab unit, when I heard a horrible scream. Several staff & myself ran to the directon of the scream, thinking it was a patient; it was a nurse..she was standing holding her hands over her face, blood everywhere. Apparently, she was cranking the pt's bed and I guess it was torqued as far as it could be tightened, and for some unknown reason (defective ?) the hand-crank & apparatus flew off & hit her between the eyes/nose area. We called 911 and she was taken to the local hospital. She called later and said that her nose was broken in 3 places & that since she was so swollen, she would have to wait a week to have surgery.
Isn't that horrible that a simple hand-crank, could fly off like that & do so much damage. I think of all the times I have had to crank beds that are non-electric. So scary and sad for that poor nurse. She could have easily lost an eye.
Lizzie

Wow!! That is terrible. Our facility has a few of those beds left. Will be much more carefull from now on.