Nurses face a host of different injury risks. They can be injured when lifting patients, they could be injured by needlesticks and on and on. This is not the most dangerous profession in the United States, but it is certainly one that is associated with its fair share of risks.
Interestingly, one of these risks seems to be getting worse. Every hour, two nurses are attacked by their own patients. This has led to a rise in workplace injuries caused by these violent assaults. Looking at 2022 data, researchers have determined that this happens an average of 57 times every single day across the United States.
Is it getting worse?
This isn’t a new issue. However, the research suggests that violence against healthcare workers seems to be growing worse. One study claims that the rates of violence have doubled since 2010, which is a significant change over a very short time.
Oftentimes, the underlying problem is that people don’t necessarily trust the healthcare system. There may not be a valid reason for this lack of trust, but some researchers did note that it was a common anecdotal reason that they’ve been hearing. If people don’t trust care workers, they may be more likely to become combative without good reason.
It’s also worth noting that many hospitals are facing nursing shortages. This means that nurses are already stressed, burned out and overworked when they arrive at work. This could increase the odds of conflicts with patients, which may lead to some of this rise in violence against nurses. But that’s certainly not to blame nurses themselves. It’s simply a contributing factor to the reality that this is a high-stress work environment, which can play a role in why nurses face these risks.
Have you been injured?
Do you work as a nurse in a hospital where you face these types of injury risks every day? You’re probably aware that the risks are growing more and more common. If you do end up getting injured on the job, it’s critical that you understand all of the legal options at your disposal. Seek legal guidance proactively whenever you’re in need of such assistance accordingly.