Injuries and Pain From Lifting Patients Causing Nurses, X-Ray Techs To Consider Quitting – Could Worsen Worker Shortage
National Survey Is First To Expose Problem of Career-Ending Injuries

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The severe shortage of healthcare workers is likely to get much worse unless something is done to help nurses and other healthcare workers safely lift patients without suffering injuries and chronic pain, AFT Healthcare said today in announcing the results of the first survey to expose the problem of career-ending injuries.

"Imagine lifting 200 pounds or more of dead weight by yourself several times a day.  That’s a typical day for nurses and X-ray techs, and it’s becoming unbearable," said Candice Owley, chair, AFT Healthcare.  "Construction workers use cranes, package delivery personnel use dollies, yet most healthcare workers are on their own and getting hurt.  This is affecting patient care and the profession."

The 509 nurses and 404 radiology technicians were asked about lifting, transferring or repositioning patients and how it affected their health.  Peter D. Hart Research Associates conducted the survey for AFT Healthcare; the respondents were randomly selected and not necessarily members of the union.  X-ray techs were included because of the misperception that lifting is only a "nurses' problem."  In fact, it affects a range of healthcare workers involved in direct patient care.

The survey found that 56 percent of the nurses and 64 percent of X-ray techs have suffered lifting-related injuries, chronic pain or both.  In addition, nearly half the nurses and nearly a third of the X-ray techs said they were considering leaving patient care because of injuries or chronic pain.

The admission by healthcare workers that physical demands could drive them out of their jobs compounds other workplace problems.  Hospitals and other healthcare facilities are facing acute worker shortages because of conditions that include inadequate staffing, mandatory overtime and insufficient support from administration.  Today’s survey found healthcare workers now place physical demands and inadequate staffing levels as the biggest problems.

AFT Healthcare is calling on states to require hospitals to adopt safety programs that provide appropriate lifting equipment and training, an action supported by an overwhelming majority of survey respondents.  The union also wants hospitals and other employers to create safe-lift committees that include nurses and others who regularly lift patients.  The committees would select equipment, place it in logical locations and develop training programs. 
 
Some hospitals have invested in lifting equipment, Owley said, but many workers don’t use it because it doesn't meet their daily needs or is inconveniently located.  She also said employers would see significant savings in workers’ compensation if their workers had appropriate equipment.

Barbara Kelsey, a Milwaukee registered nurse, told of chronic back problems from lifting post-surgical patients.  "The pain was so bad that it ended my career as a bedside nurse,” said Kelsey, now doing non-patient-care work. “The best thing is to have the right equipment."

Vinnie Fedor, an X-ray tech at a New Jersey hospital, told of his mishap when manually lifting a patient from a gurney onto the X-ray table.  "The only way to do it is to climb on the table, crouch down to grip the sheet that the patient is on, and lift," Fedor said.  "When I hopped off the table, my foot snagged on the sheet and I flew off the table, hit my head on the lid of the disposable waste can, bounced up, slammed back into the table and fell on my back onto the floor," he said, noting he fractured his pelvis and required knee surgery.  "And sadly, we still don’t have lifting equipment."

SURVEY HIGHLIGHTS

• BACK, SHOULDER OR NECK INJURIES
  Nurses and X-ray techs:  About 40 percent of each group have been injured from lifting, transferring or repositioning patients.  For both groups, about a quarter have suffered multiple inquiries over their career.  Both groups have lost about the same amount of work time from injuries – 20 percent for nurses and 22 percent for X-ray techs – including having to take vacation days or unpaid leave.
  
• CHRONIC PAIN
  Nurses:  Nearly half – 48 percent – said they suffered chronic pain as a result of lifting, transferring or repositioning patients.  Of those, more than one-third of nurses, or 38 percent, have worked regularly with chronic pain.  But the pain was too great for many; a quarter of them had to lose work time, including having to take vacation days or unpaid leave.
  X-ray techs:  More than half – 58 percent – said they have experienced chronic pain.  Of those, 47 percent have worked regularly with chronic pain.  The pain was so bad that 20 percent had to lose work time, including taking vacation days or unpaid leave. 
  
• LEAVING THE PROFESSION
  Nurses:  During the past two years, 47 percent said they considered leaving patient care – either to retire or to do a different kind of job because of the physical demands of the work.
  X-ray techs:  In the past two years, 30 percent considered leaving patient care.
  
• MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT
  Nurses:  Nearly two-thirds said their hospital has lifting equipment but 60 percent said they don’t use the equipment for various reasons.   
  X-ray techs:  Less than half, or 46 percent, said their hospital has mechanical lifting equipment but 38 percent said they don’t use the equipment.

Read the full survey results here.

View video clip of press event.

# # # #