Posted December 22, 2020
Caring for Caregivers in the Year of the Nurse
Nursing is a calling that not everyone is cut out for, but for those who’ve dedicated their life to helping others, we salute you.
2020. What a year to celebrate the nurse. If there is any industry that has proven its worth this year, it’s healthcare. And nurses are clearly worth their weight in gold. Clinicians at all levels and from all departments have taken a proverbial beating this year but have shown up to face another day. Why? Because their patient’s lives depended on it. Thrust into unfamiliar departments, PPE shortages, and long shifts not to mention home obligations has made for a weary workforce.
But if nurses are anything, they are resilient and for this, they should be celebrated. But even in a ‘normal’ year, it is not without it’s pitfalls. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistic’s 2018 survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, healthcare workers had the highest rate of nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses. Topping the chart at nearly 550,000 injuries, caring for others has become a risky business in and of itself. And 2020 has certainly not made circumstances any easier.
Of these healthcare injuries, the most common are strains and sprains. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) back injuries and overexertion account for over 50% of all injuries. What a pain! And, it is not surprising that clinician ‘burnout’ is also on the rise given the current climate within the hospitals. Something has to give!
Safe patient handling products aren’t going to alleviate all of the stress, but it’s a start. Providing nurses with methods to safely move and reposition their patients without adding additional pain and strain is key. With the fall flu season meeting COVID with open arms, chances are good the life of the nurse is not going to slow down any time in the foreseeable future. CLICK HERE to find solutions in safe patient handling.
Nursing is a calling that not everyone is cut out for, but for those who’ve dedicated their life to helping others, we salute you.
