Top 5 Most Common Injuries to Nurses



Nurses and other care givers are injured more often at work than any other job in Missouri. In 2016, nurses hurt at work, and other healthcare providers accounted for 19.15% of all reported workplace injuries. Employers reported 19,930 injuries to nurses hurt to the Missouri Division of Workers Compensation. The next closest industry was Manufacturing at 14.05%. 

Let's look at the 5 most common injuries that nurses suffer at work.



Patient Activities – Often, Nurses are hurt lifting patients. Nurses must transfer patients to and from beds and wheelchairs to get x-rays and other tests. Sometimes nurses must reposition patients in their beds. Any time a patient is leaning on a nurse or shifting his/her weight, the nurse can suffer an injury.  We often see nurses suffer slipped discs, a herniation in the cervical spine (the neck), or bulging discs in the lumbar spine (the low back). See the results that we have obtained for nurses in Missouri workers comp claims.

Sprains and Strains from Slip and Falls – Nurses are on their feet all day and walking through busy areas full of patients, beds, and diagnostic machines.  It is very common for nurses to slip and fall or even just lose their balance.  OSHA research shows that sprains and strains are the most frequently workplace injuries for nurses, CNAs and other caregivers. For instance, a nurse may slip and catch herself before falling completely to the ground.  She could still suffer a severe strain to her shoulder, tear a rotator cuff (a SLAP tear) or wrench her back.  Especially relevant to caregivers, liquid on the floor and slick surfaces in hospitals and nursing homes create greater slip and fall risks.  As a result of these dangers, we often file Missouri Work Comp Claims relating to knee ligament damage, broken ankles, and fractured wrists from slip and fall injuries.

Repetitive Motion and Stress – Nurses, CNAs, orderlies and other caregivers often perform the same task over and over and over.  They may be drawing blood, operating a machine, or simply stocking the supply room.  These repetitive tasks can put stress on a nurse’s muscles, tendons, ligaments and joints. These injuries include carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), cubital tunnel syndrome, and tendonitis.  As a result of these repetitive motions, OSHA data showss that caregivers are more than seven times as likely to suffer joint injuries than other workers. As a result of their increased exposure, Missouri law allows nurses to bring occupational injury claims.

Special Dangers to Nurses

Needle Sticks – More than any other profession, nurses face the danger of needles almost every day.  As a result of having needles at work, nurses working with patients, drawing blood or giving medicine can stick themselves with needles.  Sometimes the patients thrash or move, causing the needle stick. These needle sticks dramatically increase the risk of a nurse contracting a bloodborne disease like HIV/AIDs, Hepatitis, and other viruses.  If a nurse does contract an illness from a needle stick, she can bring a Missouri workers compensation claim.

Assault & Battery and Violence – Hospitals and doctors’ offices can be high stress environments.  Patients and their families receive bad news and often take it out on the nurses and caregivers that deliver the message.  OHSA statistics warn that nurses, CNAs, and social service workers are at risk of being assaulted at work. Missouri work comp law is not 100% clear on Assault & Battery claims; however, we have successfully represented nurses and caregivers injured by violence at work.  Sometimes patients accidentally injure their nurse by resisting a treatment.  In other situations, the assailant intended to inflict harm on a nurse.  We seriously review assault & battery cases for nurses and fight to assert their work comp rights.  Unfortunately, hospitals, clinics and pharmacies are robbery targets because they store drugs.

 Missouri Workers Compensation Claims For Nurses

Nurses hurt at work can file a Missouri Workers Comp Claim.  Notably, many nurses do not want to hurt their employer or take resources away from patients. First of all (and of super importance), filing a claim will not hurtyour employer.  Missouri designed the work comp system to protect your employer by requiring the hospital or clinic to carry workers compensation insurance.  The work comp system also Guarantees 3 Benefits for nurses hurt at work.  Exercising your rights now can protect your long term health and get you back to helping patients.

Schedule a Free Consultation

Our goal is to protect your rights and get you back to work.  Part of protecting your rights is ensuring you receive the medical treatment you need.  We also fight to maximize all possible compensation available under the law.  Most of all, we fight against the insurance companies and their teams of lawyers and adjusters.  The BiState Law Center wants nurses, CNAs, and other caregivers to heal and get back to helping patients.  Call us today at (888) 519-2215 for a free consultation about your Missouri Work Comp Claim.