During the pandemic, healthcare practitioners emerged as our nation’s frontline soldiers against COVID. We witnessed the United Nations declaring 2020 as the Year of the Nurse and the Midwife in honor of all our brave healthcare professionals. Nurses have been known as the country’s most trusted people for decades! However, this profession has several health hazards, as 115,000 RNs have succumbed to the coronavirus while dealing with infected patients. Let’s discuss some of these health hazards you should know about that often affect our healthcare practitioners in 2022.
Health hazards faced by nurses today
COVID affected our nation’s mental health and didn’t spare even our healthcare professionals. We learn from studies that 38% of RNs suffer from burnout each year. What makes nursing such a dangerous and risk-filled occupation? Today, healthcare practitioners are overworked, understaffed, and subjected to even violence by patients. Typically, nurses don’t follow a nine-to-five schedule and regularly have to work night shifts to make both ends meet.
Moreover, workplace violence/injuries have made nursing an adverse vocation. However, we’re discussing the health hazards associated with this occupation. What’s the procedure to keep yourself safe as an on-duty nurse? Let us discuss some methods for your safety.
Sadly, nurses are poorly-equipped to battle a barely-understood pandemic. Some nurses wish to change despotic policies that endanger their colleagues’ well-being. Distance learning can help you bolster your knowledge and assume leadership positions in this industry. Pursue the MSN to DNP online degree to hone your nursing acumen. This digitally-acquired degree prepares you for educating your colleagues.
In contrast, students can finish this program to contribute to health-related policymaking. You may promote self-protection guidelines among RNs that prevent them from the below-mentioned health hazards. We are describing some of the most gruesome health hazards associated with being an on-duty nurse now:
Sharp injuries:-
OSHA estimates that 384,000 needlestick injuries happen in our hospitals annually. What makes just some simple prickings dangerous? OSHA estimates that sharp injuries have made over 5.6 million health workers exposed to blood-borne pathogens today. These pathogens include HIV along with the hepatitis B&C virus. So, we expect nursing leaders to introduce needleless IV systems in our clinics and hospitals. Also, nurses must take precautionary measures while administering medicines.
Infections:-
Infections are common among health workers, but they become deadly when RNs deal with a patient suffering from COVID-19. Also, sharp injuries make nurses more vulnerable to these diseases, thereby threatening the safety of our healthcare practitioners. Don’t forget that most of these sharp injuries take place during disposal. So, they should learn how to dispose of needles without harming themselves. Follow safety guidelines to avoid getting hit with needles. Make safety your priority.
Radiation exposure:-
Radiation exposure affects nurses working in radiography, because of which RNs must stay cautious. Even the nursing staff treated patients in the ICU when they were bombarded with scattered radiation from x-rays and other procedures. How is radiation exposure dangerous? It leads to cancers of different categories and stillbirth/miscarriage among expecting mothers. So, RNs can’t be too careless when dealing with radiation. Exposure can have many other long-term effects too.
Violent patients:-
Patients are getting more violent, nurses have reported. It’s estimated that every 4th nurse today has faced workplace violence, making hospitals some of the most hazardous workplaces in the USA. We believe that violence from patients may arise because of mental disorders, neurological challenges, and electrolyte imbalances. Nurses receive training for handling these instances of violence. Some of them, however, can get seriously hurt. That’s why caution is necessary to avoid serious damages.
Back injuries:-
“Back pain” doesn’t sound that threatening, but these injuries affect thousands of nurses each year. Some nursing-related activities involve actions such as lifting, carrying, or transferring a patient that may lead to spinal issues. Also, carrying objects weighing more than 30+ pounds may be unhealthy for RNs. These problems make nurses suffer from an aching back, decreasing their productivity. So, we propose that nurses refrain from carrying heavy equipment for self-protection.
Dangerous medications:-
Contact with toxins has always plagued the healthcare profession. Nurses may inhale or consume hazardous medications, thereby endangering their well-being while handling patients. Your health stays vulnerable to these medications when they are being touched, removed, or transferred. For instance, contacting drugs used to treat cancer have effects ranging from rashes to cancer itself! Thus, nurses must stay cautious when dealing with these drugs and shouldn’t be careless.
Muscular injuries:-
Physical injuries have always eluded the attention they deserve in the nursing vocation. It’s believed that 49.7% of the events of workplace injuries among RNs come from overexertion. Slips, trips, and falls also contribute to workplace accidents that pose a health hazard to nurses today. RNs must recognize these hazards and stay mindful of these problems. Follow protocols to avoid accidents as well as OSHA-mandated healthcare guidelines. That’s how you can prevent workplace injuries easily.
Trauma:-
Did you know how common stress has become among nurses? Dealing with patients doesn’t merely harm a nurse’s physical health but may also impact her mental well-being. Many nurses are handling their stress probably without even knowing they have it! Some 87% of RNs show symptoms of PTSD and anxiety. Losing patients or watching people suffer can adversely affect a nurse’s health. Also, nurses may have insomnia, due to which their health can continue to decline drastically.
Allergies:-
Lastly, we shouldn’t forget about allergies! Nurses may face allergies when they contact a harmless substance such as latex. Nurses can suffer from latex allergy in operating rooms, leading to anaphylaxis. That’s why nursing leaders are replacing latex gloves with vinyl gloves. That’s how nurses can stay safe from latex allergies.
Conclusion
Statistics have indicated that occupational hazards/injuries aren’t uncommon in healthcare. A study shows that private-industry RNs suffered from 19,790 days-away-from-work incidents of wounds, injuries, and accidents in 2016. So, what are some common health hazards of being a nurse? RNs shouldn’t sacrifice their safety and stay careful while working their shifts. Wearing PPE can protect them from contracting the coronavirus. That’s how our nurses can save themselves from getting hurt at work.
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