Most Dangerous Part of Nursing

meadow85 · Oct 23, 2008

The fact that we are the front line workers during an outbreak. For example, SARS. I was not working at the time. I was about to start my first year of nursing school. But the stories that I heard were scary.

Also during orientation a lady asked the occupational health presenter what would happen if we had a SARS patient and we did not have the proper personal protective equipment, what would happen? He said we had an obligation to the patient and would have to go in or else we would be "abandoning" the patient and could be sued. I also work on an oncology unit and we have special rooms for radiation patients, we are not supposed to go in, but in an emergency we would have to with the protective aprons on.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Oct 23, 2008

I've seen several people injury themselves slipping on wet floors. Also seen more that a few back injuries from patient care lifting, turning, etc. Finally, equipment occasionally causes problems. The other day a nurse sustained an open finger fracture when a medication drawer slammed on her finger in the automated med system, while someone didn't see her and was moving it.

leosasha · Oct 23, 2008

Had a needle stick once. The patient was Hep c positive and did'nt know it. Had a heroin addict threaten to break my jaw once if I did'nt give him more drugs while he was withdrawing off heroin. Suffered a back injury from overwork. Have been exposed to numerous pathogens like C Diff, VRE, and MRSA. How about all the inner city hospitals I have driven to work in high crime neighborhoods? Does that count. Have been threatened by CNA's in a couple of facilities with damage to my car for insisting that they do their job ( they prefered sleeping ). Eveyone wonders why I keep driving my 92. Suppose I should mention the demented combative patients that are prone to assault. Actually, I don'nt dwell on it much or I probably would'nt go to work.

Lovely_RN, MSN · Oct 23, 2008

Unpredictable patients.

I had 6"4' male bipolar resident who was going through a manic phase and had refused his 300mg of lithium for 3 days in a row threaten to get "Tony the Umbrella man" to take me out.

Another resident who was refusing meds...threw a metal garbage can at the nurse's station and had to be removed by the police after managing to get her window open and throwing a small T.V., all the linens and various other objects out of her 4th story window.

Another resident threatened to cut the baby out of a CNA...also had to be removed from by the police.

Another resident, in for CVA rehab, (jailbird in his youth) 6"5' with one-sided weakness (but that other arm is strong as all heck) really hurt a CNA with one blow from his ham like hand.

Mind you I work in rehab not a locked psych unit but since we are not a LTC we take any and every fricken one. :down:

racing-mom4, BSN, RN · Oct 23, 2008

I think the most dangerous part is giving a patient the wrong med. I know there are safety gaurds in place but think how easily it can and does happen.

Ultimatly the nurse is the final protector of the patient. The effects of a mistake like that could be life changing for the patient and the nurse.

alyx · Oct 24, 2008

Let me see how many of you agree with this most dangerous aspect of nursing, IMHO, UNDERSTAFFED!!!

RaspberryTX, RN · Oct 24, 2008

Not going to mention the hospital but...at a psych hospital where I used to live, a nurse got kicked in the head a few times by a psych patient before someone was able to jump in and help. She ended up with a broken jaw.

soulofme · Oct 24, 2008

Driving to and from work with all the other crazies on the road

RNfaster · Oct 24, 2008

The most common injuries reported to occupational health where I work are musculoskeletal.

Dolce, RN · Oct 24, 2008

The growing epidemic of obesity in our country has produced some real challenges for healthcare providers. Not all facilities are equipped with special bariatric beds and lifts and yet we can't turn a patient away or refuse care. So, nurses can end up bearing the brunt of the burden when it comes to repositioning and turning.

I can't tell you how many nurse's I've worked with who have hurt their backs because of their job. We are frequently pushing or pulling heavy equipment, bending over, stooping down, twisting, lifting. Nursing is definitely a manual labor job!

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Oct 24, 2008

ergonomics/handle with care

handlewthcare.aspx

the handle with care® campaign seeks to mount a profession-wide effort to prevent back and other musculoskeletal injuries through greater education and training, and increased use of assistive equipment and patient-handling devices. the campaign also seeks to reshape nursing education, and federal and state ergonomics policy by highlighting the ways technology-oriented safe-patient handling benefits patients and the nursing workforce.

handle with care backgrounder

nursing and musculoskeletal disorders

exacerbating the growing nursing shortage

federal legislation/regulation

state legislation

ana's advocacy on ergonomics

many great videos out there already on the #1 reason nurses have career ending ms injury.

i produce safety/training videos and i am currently assigned a project specifically for health care workers about the dangers of working in health care.

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thread closed after mod discussion.