Common Injuries CNAs Face on the Job and How to Prevent Them

Certified Nursing Assistants play a vital role in healthcare settings, providing essential care to patients and supporting nurses and doctors. However, their work often involves physically demanding tasks, and the risk of injury is high. While CNAs are trained to handle their duties safely, certain injuries remain common in the profession. Understanding these injuries and how to prevent them can improve the health and safety of CNAs while ensuring they provide the best care to their patients.

1. Back Injuries

Cause: Back injuries are among the most common injuries CNAs face. These often occur during patient transfers, such as lifting patients in and out of bed, helping them move in a wheelchair, or assisting with personal hygiene tasks. Improper lifting techniques or lifting patients without proper assistance can strain the back, leading to sprains, strains, or even more serious spinal injuries.

Prevention:

• Proper Lifting Techniques: CNAs should use proper body mechanics when lifting or transferring patients. This includes bending at the knees (not the back), keeping the back straight, and using the legs to lift.
• Use Assistive Devices: Wheelchairs, transfer belts, and patient lifts can reduce the strain on the back. Always use these tools when possible and ask for assistance if needed.
• Regular Exercise: Engaging in strength-building exercises can improve posture and back strength, which reduces the risk of injury.

2. Slip and Fall Injuries

Cause: CNAs frequently move around the healthcare facility, sometimes in wet or cluttered areas, which increases the risk of slip and fall accidents. Wet floors from spills, improper footwear, and cluttered hallways are common contributors to these incidents.

Prevention:

• Maintain a Clean Environment: Ensure that floors are clean and dry, and that any spills are immediately cleaned up to avoid slip hazards.
• Wear Proper Footwear: Non-slip shoes or boots with adequate support can prevent falls. Avoid wearing shoes that have slippery soles or that do not provide proper arch support.
• Clear Walkways: Ensure that all hallways, patient rooms, and bathrooms are clear of obstacles and clutter. This can help prevent trips and falls when moving quickly through the facility.

3. Needle Stick Injuries

Cause: CNAs handle needles, syringes, and other sharp objects regularly when assisting with blood draws or administering injections. A needle stick injury occurs when a needle or sharp object accidentally punctures the skin, potentially leading to exposure to bloodborne pathogens.

Prevention:

• Proper Disposal of Sharps: Always dispose of needles, syringes, and other sharp objects in a designated sharps container immediately after use. Never recap needles with your hands.
• Use of Safety-Engineered Devices: Whenever possible, use needle devices that have built-in safety mechanisms, such as retracting needles or shields, to minimize the risk of accidental punctures.
• Wear Gloves: Wearing gloves when handling needles and other sharp instruments can provide a layer of protection, though it is not a substitute for proper safety protocols.

4. Repetitive Stress Injuries (RSIs)

Cause: RSIs occur due to repeated motions, such as bending, twisting, or gripping, which can strain muscles, tendons, and joints. CNAs who perform tasks like transferring patients, bathing them, or repositioning them frequently are particularly at risk for these injuries, especially in the hands, wrists, and shoulders.

Prevention:

• Take Regular Breaks: Repetitive motions can lead to fatigue and strain on the body. CNAs should take regular breaks to rest and stretch to prevent overuse of muscles and joints.
• Ergonomic Tools: Using ergonomically designed equipment, such as adjustable beds, shower chairs, and lifting devices, can reduce the strain on the body.
• Stretching and Strengthening: Regular stretching and strengthening exercises focused on the hands, wrists, shoulders, and back can help reduce the risk of RSIs.

5. Patient Aggression and Violence

Cause: CNAs often work with patients who may be confused, agitated, or dealing with mental health issues. This can sometimes result in patient aggression, including physical attacks such as hitting, kicking, or biting. While rare, these incidents can cause injuries ranging from bruises to broken bones.

Prevention:

• De-Escalation Techniques: CNAs should be trained in verbal de-escalation techniques to manage aggressive patients calmly and effectively.
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): In situations where aggression is a possibility, wearing protective gear such as gloves, aprons, or padded clothing can provide additional safety.
• Team Support: If a situation becomes dangerous, CNAs should never hesitate to call for backup from other healthcare professionals to ensure patient and staff safety.

6. Muscle Strains

Cause: Lifting, pulling, or pushing patients and heavy equipment can lead to muscle strains. The most affected areas include the back, arms, and legs. Improper techniques, overexertion, and attempting to lift more than what one can handle are significant contributing factors to muscle strains.

Prevention:

• Proper Lifting Techniques: As mentioned earlier, lifting with the legs, not the back, is crucial to avoid muscle strain. If a patient is too heavy, ask for assistance.
• Use of Assistive Devices: Tools like patient lifts, slide sheets, and gait belts can significantly reduce the need for manual lifting and the associated risk of muscle strains.
• Strength Training: Strengthening muscles, particularly those used in patient handling, can reduce the likelihood of strains.

7. Burns and Scalds

Cause: CNAs often assist with feeding patients, preparing meals, or handling hot equipment like heating pads. Burns can occur if a CNA is not careful when handling hot items or assisting patients with food or beverages.

Prevention:

• Handle Hot Items Carefully: Always be mindful when dealing with hot water, food, or heating pads. Use protective gloves when handling items that may cause burns.
• Proper Training: CNAs should be trained on the proper way to assist patients with food and hot liquids to avoid spills and burns.
• Monitor Equipment: Ensure that all equipment is functioning properly and that temperature settings are within safe limits.

8. Eye Injuries

Cause: Eye injuries can occur when dealing with bodily fluids, administering injections, or cleaning wounds. Splashing fluids or flying debris can cause damage to the eyes if proper protection is not worn.

Prevention:

• Wear Protective Eyewear: Safety glasses or face shields should be worn when handling patients with bodily fluids or when performing tasks that may result in eye exposure to hazards.
• Proper Hygiene: Always wash hands before and after patient contact to prevent any foreign substances from coming into contact with the eyes.
• Maintain Clean Environments: Keeping workspaces clean reduces the risk of debris and foreign objects getting into the eyes.

CNAs face several common injuries while performing their duties, but with proper training, awareness, and preventive measures, many of these injuries can be avoided. By using proper lifting techniques, maintaining a clean and safe work environment, and utilizing assistive devices, CNAs can reduce the risks they face daily. Ensuring that CNAs are well-equipped to handle the physical and emotional demands of their jobs is essential to maintaining their health and the quality of care they provide to patients.

CNA TRAINING INSTITUTE,INC
140 Eldridge Road # G
Sugar Land, TX 77478
Phone: (346) 633 – 4628
https://cnatraininginstitute.org/
(346) 633 – 4628