Illinois nurses should be familiar with the following tips because they can help in preventing illnesses and injuries. First, nurses are encouraged to obtain plenty of sleep, exercise daily and eat healthy. All of this boosts the immune system and makes one alert during work, lowering the chances of a mistake on the job.
To prevent illnesses, nurses should wear the right personal protective equipment like gloves, gowns, masks and eye protection. They should wash their hands frequently. There are numerous pathogens that nurses should be immunized against, starting with influenza and continuing with hepatitis B, measles, mumps and rubella.
An average of 1,000 needlestick- and sharps-related injuries occur among hospital personnel every day, so nurses should practice safe handling techniques, never recapping needles or using unnecessary connection systems. Needlesticks should have automatic safety mechanisms.
Ergonomic injuries are common among nurses, but they can be avoided through good body mechanics. Nurses could rotate tasks between their hands and change their position when sitting or standing for long periods of time. To avert a back injury, they should not lift patients manually unless they have assistance or a lift and transfer device ready. They should, in their turn, step up to help co-workers when lifting patients or dealing with aggressive patients.
Even when hospitals do the utmost with regards to workplace safety, accidents and occupational diseasescan arise. In such cases, victims may be reimbursed for medical expenses and a portion of lost wages through the workers’ compensation program. There are strict deadlines when it comes to reporting an incident and filing a claim, and the laws can be complicated, so victims may want to have legal assistance.
