about what % of CNA's have back injuries?

Nursing Students CNA/MA

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I'm taking a class to become a CNA and I think I'll work as one for a few years while I move up the waiting list for the nursing degree I'm considering. I know back injuries are a problem for the health field, and I was wondering if anyone knew any statistics for CNA's and back related injuries. Also, do you believe most injuries occur due to inadequate training, rushing, not having another person to help or practicing poor body mechanics? Or, does body mechanics seem to not reflect the amount of back injuries seen? Thanks for any comments! :)

I guess in a nutshell I'm worried more about debilitating chronic pain from a back injury. I've had back pain and have probably pulled a muscle or two in the past, but it's the idea of permanent serious damage that makes me so nervous.

I've known quite a few nurses and aides with these problems. It's a serious problem. Just protect yourself, use good body mechanics and don't lift too much.

While we have a higher chance of getting this injury, those with serious back injuries are still the minority. Most people never have back injuries.

I've known quite a few nurses and aides with these problems. It's a serious problem. Just protect yourself, use good body mechanics and don't lift too much.

Thanks for the tips. And this is kind of dumb, but which injuries are you referring to here? The debilitating serious ones, or ones where we sprain or pull something?

While we have a higher chance of getting this injury, those with serious back injuries are still the minority. Most people never have back injuries.

That's good to know. :) Thanks to everyone else who replied too. (not that I want to stop talking about it! lol)

Thanks for the tips. And this is kind of dumb, but which injuries are you referring to here? The debilitating serious ones, or ones where we sprain or pull something?

The minor ones like sprains. I've met few people that had serious problems and they are usually older. Much older.

But that's just my experience.

The minor ones like sprains. I've met few people that had serious problems and they are usually older. Much older.

But that's just my experience.

Oh ok. That's good it's not the serious ones. Yeah, I know it can vary with each person. It's still kind of a relief to see some out there with more positive stories to tell for back injuries, though. :p I plan to talk to as many of the other CENA's and nurses at my clinicals to get their opinions too.

Specializes in CNA.

I just recently quit a facility because it had horrible working conditions and wouldn't let use lifts. We were understaffed too. There was only one aide out of all the aides and nurses working there that didn't have a back, leg, hip or wrist injury. :crying2: And it whereas one of the obese residents did cause a hernia in one of the aides...the real back-breaker was a 140 pound elderly woman. She was complete dead weight, and she would reflexively grab onto handles or clothing, which would really screw up the dynamics of the transfer! The other aides and nurses tried to make me feel bad for not being able to dress or transfer her alone, but I refused to touch her without help after the first time I twisted my back to keep from dropping her.

Hopefully you will find a better facility than that though!

I work on an inpatient rehab unit with primarily stroke patients. There is alot of lifting involved on this floor. and they do tell you to ask for help for lifting but honestly either the other cna's are busy with all of their patients or they just make you feel bad for always asking them and say things like "fine but this is the only time tonight" The injury i've seen most often on our floor is shoulder injuries, probably from pulling or something. I've hurt my back, which constantly is sore now. i've been seeing a chiropractor for pain relief. and i've hurt my wrists when a 300lb patient rolled back on them while i was rolling him.

Hm, well I'll have to just go in expecting that I might get responses like that, but also know that I don't want to risk injuring myself because I didn't have enough help. It is good to know though because I can prepare myself mentally for situations where I could get responses like that.

Specializes in psych. rehab nursing, float pool.

Having extra help is always a bonus. I must say though I have never injured myself while lifting someone so to speak. It has been during the unexpected moves of a patient such as their trying to do more for themselves than they were capable of causing me to reach for them to prevent their falls. I believe the longer we work in the field due to repetitive movements is what gets us in the end.

Watch the nursing staff with bad knees and hips from pounding the halls up and down for 20 plus years. The previously pulled muscles which have over time caused pulling to the point of spinal misalignment. The number of staff who have carpal tunnel. Grim, yes. Yet the majority of nurses continue to work.

I have seen a few who have had to find jobs with lighter duty such as working in offices. They remain the minority. Perhaps less then a dozen over the years who became permanently disabled.

The CDC publishes this report on the National Institute of Occupational Safety's study about health care workers and back injuries.

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/blog/nsb092208_lifting.html

Nurse aides sustain the highest rate of injuries, and they can be mostly prevented by proper use of lifts and techniques. However, it also notes that most training programs and nursing schools continue to teach unsafe patient handling procedures.

In other words: you are quite likely to find work in many facilities with a culture of unsafe handling procedures. Choosing where you work, and choosing *how* you will work at any facility is left up to you--a pretty big responsibility for anyone, especially anyone new to health care. But that's the way it is.

Dina

Thanks everyone for all the replies! I got a lot of different answers, but it goes to show that the health care field can be different depending on where you are and all that. Thanks for the link to the article also. That's what I was looking for!

I worked as an aide in LTC for 11 years. I NEVER hurt my back (at least I never felt I did at the time) because I had willing coworkers, good equipment and used proper body mechanics.

I didn't hurt my back, but did twist my leg painfully during a transfer in geri-psych.

Why?

No lift, pt turned combative mid-transfer and CARPET.

My body pivoted and my leg got caught on the carpet and didn't follow the rest of my body.

I used good mechanics, had very a very capable helper, but with no lift, an unexpected combative patient and carpet, I was doomed.

My leg still hurts sometimes at my knee.

It happens and I feel it is only a matter of time.

And, over the years, I notice I have back pain.

I believe it is due to accumulated stress which I had NO CLUE was occurring at the time.

I am very FIRM on teaching body mechanics and will not lift with anyone I don't trust, but I got my share of trouble over time anyway.

Even lifting equipment requires manipulation of that equipment so you still have to watch your back and knees.

It is very hard not to twist maneuvering a heavy patient in a lift with teeny weeny wheels over carpet (I HATE CARPET!!).

All said, you do the best you can and pray damage over time is minimal.

Specializes in Med-Surg/urology.
You are your patients advocate. If your patient gets hurt because 2 of you are lifting them you will catch the heat for it.

You're right. The resident used to be able to walk, but their dementia is progressing. In the resident's file it says now that they are a 4 person transfer..but their is only two people in the section at a time. And no1 wants to help us. What can you do? :( I like my residents but putting my license in jeopardy is not worth it, so I'm quitting.

I will say this though: Yes there are quite a few ppl @ my facility that have permanent back injuries but I think the injuries are because they did things like trying to stop a person from falling & trying to transfer someone by themselves when they should ask for help.

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