Nurses & Healthcare Workers Workers Comp Guide

Healthcare workers face both physical and psychological injury risks that are less common in most other fields.

By CompClaimIQ Editorial Team Sourced data

Common Injuries in This Occupation

Patient Handling Is the Leading Cause

Manually lifting, repositioning, and transferring patients is one of the most common sources of back and spinal injuries in healthcare — the physical demands of patient handling are a well-documented occupational hazard, and many facilities have adopted lift-assist equipment specifically to reduce this risk.

Workplace Violence Is a Real, Compensable Risk

Healthcare workers face higher rates of workplace violence than most occupations, from combative patients or visitors. Injuries from these incidents are generally compensable the same as any other workplace injury, and in some cases, resulting psychological injury claims are compensable too — though psychological-only claims face more scrutiny than physical injury claims in most states.

Exposure Risks

Needlestick injuries, chemical exposure from cleaning agents and medications, and infectious disease exposure are occupational risks specific to healthcare settings, with their own documentation and reporting considerations separate from a traditional traumatic injury claim.

Talk to a Workers Comp Attorney

← Back to all occupations · See settlement estimates by state → · Claims process guides →