Putting a Microscope on Hospital Employee Health
You’re interested in the healthcare industry because you want to help people. Your compassion is your calling; it’s why you do what you do. But the irony is that by working in healthcare you’re also putting your own health in harm’s way
Hospitals are one of the most dangerous places to work. In fact, hospital workers suffer more workplace injuries and illnesses than even those in the construction and manufacturing industries, according to theOccupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). For every 100 full-time hospital employees, there were 33 reported cases of injury and illness in 2013, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
Does this mean you need to choose a new career path? No! It just means you have to be aware of the hazards and know how to prevent them. Keep reading to learn how you can stay healthy and safe in a healthcare work environment
What are the risks
Germs
There’s no getting around it: you’re exposed to a lot of germs and disease in hospitals. Sometimes hospital workers pay the price
“The most common diseases hospital workers would be exposed to are bacterias causing strep, pneumonias and some viruses that cause flu and colds,” says healthcare advocate Diane Harayda M.ED
Hospital workers that spend more face-to-face time with patients or handle more bodily fluids are more at risk than ones who briefly see patients, such as a physician, adds Peg Luebbert, consultant and owner of Healthcare Interventions, LLC
Heavy lifting
Lifting and maneuvering patients is just part of the job for many hospital employees. Unfortunately, lifting up heavier patients can take a toll on the backs of nurses and other healthcare workers. Back injuries are all too common amongst healthcare workers, especially nursing assistants, reports NPR
Slips, trips and falls also pose threat to hospital employees, as well as operating heavy equipment.
“When you add new techniques and new equipment, you introduce new problems,” says Luebbert. “You have to constantly be alert to what you can do”
Unruly or violent patients
“Hospital workers are here to help and care for others, but we sometimes take a beating in doing so,” says Alicia Hyatte, an inpatient psychiatric and substance abuse social worker
Hospital workers can unfortunately bear the brunt of stress and aggression amongst unruly patients. Patients brought in under the influence of drugs or alcohol or patients experiencing psychosis may also exhibit violent behavior that could pose a threat to workers, according to Scientific American.
Overworked employees
Long, irregular hours amongst hospital workers also affect their health. Busy, chaotic shifts mean they often don’t get to take breaks. Overworked and understaffed hospital workers are more likely to make mistakes
Stress and sleep deprivation from overnight shifts may also contribute to obesity in nurses, as well as poor eating habits, according to Nurse Together. Stress experienced over longer periods of time can lead to compassion fatigue and burnout, which take a toll on employee health and wellbeing
Negligent hand-washing
This simple preventative act is second-nature in hospitals. After all, hospital workers more than anyone should know– it’s the most important way to reduce infection risk. However, the more hours a hospital employee works, the less likely they are to practice safe hand-washing, according to a study by the Social Science Research Network
Radiation exposure
Non-invasive surgeries and X-rays are routine in hospitals – but these common procedures come with radiation exposure for the nurses, physicians and radiological technicians involved. Over time, this radiation exposure has been linked to cancer, cataracts and a slew of other health-related issues, says Michael D. Seymour MS, MPH, CIH, director of advocacy programs of the Organization for Occupational Radiation Safety in Interventional Fluoroscopy
