Common Injuries for Nurses

Nursing can be a dangerous job. Nurses often get hurt while doing their daily work tasks. They lift heavy patients, work on wet floors, handle sharp needles, and sometimes face violence. Here are some of the most common injuries nurses experience:

• Lifting and moving patients: Nurses often have to lift or reposition patients, which can strain their backs and shoulders. Heavy lifting can cause muscle pulls, spine injuries, or other back problems.
• Slips, trips, and falls: Hospitals and clinics can have wet floors or objects on the ground. A nurse can slip on a spill or trip over equipment, leading to sprained ankles, broken bones, or bruises. Wearing proper shoes and keeping walkways clear helps reduce this risk.
• Needlestick injuries: Handling needles and sharp instruments is part of a nurse’s job. An accidental poke from a used needle can be scary. It can expose nurses to blood-borne infections, so hospitals have rules to safely handle and dispose of needles.
• Violence from patients or visitors: Unfortunately, nurses sometimes face physical aggression. Patients or visitors might hit, scratch, or bite due to illness or frustration. These attacks can cause injuries like bruises, cuts, or even broken bones. Nurses are trained in de-escalation, and hospitals should provide security measures.

All of the above injuries should be covered through workers’ compensation.

Workers’ Compensation for Nurses in Georgia

Workers’ compensation (“workers’ comp”) is a type of insurance that covers employees who get hurt on the job. In Georgia, most employers with three or more workers must have this insurance. If you are a nurse injured at work, workers’ comp can help in several ways:

• Medical bills: Workers’ comp will pay for all approved medical treatment for your work injury. This includes doctor visits, hospital stays, medicine, physical therapy, and even travel costs to get to your appointments. You should not have to pay these bills out of pocket.
• Lost wages: If your injury makes you miss more than seven days of work, you can receive weekly payments to cover part of your lost income. In Georgia, the benefit is usually about two-thirds of your average weekly wage (up to a state-set maximum). These checks help you pay bills while you recover.
• Disability benefits: If your injury causes a long-term or permanent problem, workers’ comp provides disability benefits. This means you might continue to get payments if you can’t return to nursing or can only work in a reduced capacity. The amount and length of these benefits depend on the severity of your injury and Georgia law. For very serious injuries (called catastrophic injuries), benefits can last longer and may include help with job training for a new role.

Returning to work with restrictions

After treating you, the doctor might say you can return to work with restrictions (also called light duty). This means you can work but with limits (for example, no heavy lifting or only working shorter shifts). In Georgia, if your employer offers you a light-duty job that meets the doctor’s restrictions, you should try to do it. They might even give you a form (WC-240 in Georgia) detailing the light-duty job offer. If you try the light-duty job and truly cannot perform it because of your injury, or if no light-duty position is available, you should inform your employer and your doctor. It is also a good idea to get a free consultation with a workers compensation attorney before trying a light duty job offer. If the job is unsuitable because of your injury, you may be able to stop working again and continue receiving your wage benefits. But, you only have 15 days to inform your employer that you are unable to perform the light duty job. If you wait longer, it might prevent you from restarting your wage benefits.

When to talk to a workers’ comp lawyer

Many simple claims go smoothly, but you might need a lawyer’s help in some cases. Consider talking to a Georgia workers’ comp attorney if your claim is denied or delayed, your employer tries to retaliate or isn’t cooperating, the insurance isn’t paying your benefits properly, or your injury is very serious and could end your nursing career. A workers’ comp lawyer can explain your rights, help gather medical evidence, and represent you in hearings or settlement talks. We offer free consultations, so it can be worth getting legal advice to make sure you receive everything you’re entitled to.