Nursing Assistants experience an average of 4.5 injuries per person per year, according to a report published by RTI International, and one main cause of injuries is lifting devices not being available.
Lack of training is another cause of injury cited by the study, with more than one third of nursing assistants reporting that their initial training left them unprepared to work safely.
Nursing assistants new to direct care or new to a facility (40% of all nursing assistants, due to high turnover) are at a much higher risk of injury, states the report.
Working overtime, low wages, and feeling rushed at work are other factors associated with lifting injuries cited by the study.
