Help!On the job injury!!!

[Keysnurse2008]

I need advice.I am a RN,I was going to help my care partner out and ambulate a pt,I let him sit up for 2 minutes, and then he stood up..I noticed he wasnt walking I looked up at his face and saw he was going to pass out on me.I didnt have time to move ..he collapsed forward atop my shoulders , with his head landing in the center of my back.I yelled out for help,as help was arriving I felt my lower back pop and I fell/collapsed to the floor with the guy slamming down on my neck and spine a second time.The charge nurse did not give me the option of going to the er and getting checked out..(it was fri am at our hospital and it was the end of my 7p-7a shift)...I didnt know where to go!I filled out an injury report like 3 min after it happened.I didnt know where to go to get checked out.I came back in the next night and told the charge nurse that my neck and back were still hurting...still i did not get told I could go get checked out.Meanwhile I am eating motrin for pain.I come back in sunday night and my neck/back is sooo swollen and painful that I have to leave in the midst of the shift because I am vomiting from severe pain and irritation.Monday...i finally get an open office that directs me to occ health.....and I show up there and get told basically to go back to work....then the swelling gets even worse and I now look like the hunchback of notre dome....I show back up a couple more times at occ health and they reluctantly do an x ray....they call and tell me its fine...but i demand to see an ortho doc.now its 2 weeks after the injury....he looks at the xray and says it bent my c spine and an mri shows 2 large herniated protruding cervical discs.I am in severe pain still.Now work comp is making me use all my sick time and vacation hours while their own dr has me off work for a work injury.I am going to physcialk therapy 3 xs a week and its 5 weeks later.the swelling is still there.i still cant move my left arm good(moderate tendinopathy diagnosed also of rotar cuff muscles).what should I do?work comp will not tell me if they are going to pay me or not while I am off.......and who knows how long that'll be?any advice? :o :o :o

[RN~in~CT]

You got some great advice already ~ just wanted to wish you a speedy recovery.

:)

[Quickbeam, BSN, RN]

I want to emphasize how very regional WC law is in the US. Some states have excellent law and are pro-employee, others are very archaic and lean heavily towards the employer. You need to know your state before you can use much of the advice here. For example, in my state, you really do better off without an attorney in most cases. And here, you can be forced to use sick time but are credited with it after the fact once the WC carrier has accepted the case.

In any event, it wouldn't hurt to consult with an attorney. And if you do have a union, that would be my first stop.

[kids]

A couple of questions came to mind reading the OP (I realize that every States' WC is different).

-Have you completed the STATE forms for WC? (or just your employers?)

-Has WC told you directly that you have to use your vacation/sick time? (or did your employer tell you WC says you have to?)

In my experience it is usually best to cut the employer out of the loop somewhat and deal directly with the WC claims person (and force the employer to do the same).

[mattsmom81]

Bet your state has a WC website...access it and familiarize yourself with the law.

'Course a good WC lawyer knows the law too.

If you pay for treatment through your own insurance company, they will insist on getting reimbursed when your WC $$$ comes through. Your attorney will know how to handle it (subrogation) and can advise you best how to proceed. Do NOT sign anything without your attorney seeing it!!!

You need to adjust your attitude to : my employer does not care about me or my welfare and it is now up to ME to look out for my health and future livelihood. If you sit idly by they will likely screw you.

Be careful, be smart, and I hope you get better soon. PT CAN help... 80% of herniated disks will heal on their own and I hope you are in that group. :)

[nialloh, RN]

Instead of using your personal time, can't you claim disability. It's another option.

[Keysnurse2008]

In my hospital you have to have a copy of ypur injury report to show up at the er asking for tx,I was not given a copy of the report,was put off when asked,I did go back in and tried to work.....but a day and 1/2 was all I could take and I left...telling them to write me off as sick for the next few scheduled days.Occ health gave me an rx for muscle relaxers....but said "im sorry you have to stop taking them before you come to work...18 hours before...." so basically you guys are right ! they are not looking out for me.This is now week #5-going on week #6 after the injury...I am still in PT 3x's a week.....My neck is still swollen....and it still feels like I have a 20lb weight attached to between my shoulder blades.I am not only going to see my pcp again...I am going on to get an eval by a neurosurgeon.This is crazy to still be hurting like this after5 weeks.My muscles are still clenched around my c spine ...pulling.

Our w/c dept called today and stated they would only pay for me to be off for 2 weeks.we do not have unions in our state and my hospital is self insured as far as work comp goes.

I cant stand the pain in between my shoulders and I will not go back to work while taking lortabs and muscle relaxers!!!!!I care too much about my patients and my reputation to risk overlooking something....PLUS I WANT MY SPINE FIXED AND THIS PAIN TO GO AWAY!!!!!!!!!!!It is time for an attorney!!!!!!

[EastCoast]

TNN, this sounds like a nightmare. Listen to everyone here who tells you to seek legal counsel.

Do not , I repeat DO NOT let feelings of loyalty to your facility prevent you from getting compensated or treated fairly.

This has potential to get worse and even debilitating.

I believe that most facilities want employees to blow thru V time and sick time to get them back to work quicker. However, doesn't sound like you can work in near future.

GET A LAWYER>Document everything.

Do not take phone calls from your concerned boss asking open ended questions like 'how are you feeling'.

Sounds tough but you need to care for you.

If you got stuck with a needle they would have had you in the ER in minutes flat. Think of it that way.

I hope sincerely things work out for you.

[katscan]

I feel so sorry for you..........The pain must be terrible! And to think you were only trying to help someone. It makes me sick that that hospital cannot take care of it's own when they hurt. And how can you get an employee injury rept when you are injured? Stupid paperwork again instead of caring for the person-what's wrong with this picture. I wish you a real bad a.. lawyer who can fight for your rights. It happened on the job while you were doing your job. It is clear to me. Why not to that hospital? You willl win I bet, but you are in for the fight of your life. Please keep us posted, we care.

[Gomer]

Doesn't your hospital have a policy on "injured at work"? You might want to check with your HR dept. or employee handbook or personnel policy book.

At my hospital it's written out in the policy book, "if you are injured at work: (1) fill out incident report, (2) go to employee health office or if EHO is not open, (3) go to ER.

[Keysnurse2008]

yes.....they did have guidelines.Guidelines that the charge nurse had a responsibility to follow and he did not.As I am not the supervisor of the unit I really did not know what to do....thats why I sought the charge nurse,My unit manager has since apologized for his"inapppropriateness".......thats a nice way of saying "OOPs ...sorry you were forced to go thru agony till monday am'

But in answer to your question at our facility the c nurse gives the ok as to whether you can leave /get care for any type of injury.

If there was a policy.....I wasnt aware till after the fact that my rights had been violated

[cannoli]

I'm really sorry to hear what happened to you. I hope everything works out for you.

Trying to visualize what happened, I do have a question, why were you standing in front of the patient instead of beside him?

I think I too would consult a lawyer.

Good luck!

[P_RN, ADN, RN]

lawyer stat, and talk to no one else. lawyer!!!!

this is not an option.

*been there done that got the tshirt, hat and the limp to prove it.