Workers’ Compensation: 3 Reasons Nurses Should File

Workers’ Compensation: 3 Reasons Nurses Should File

Nurses devote their careers to patient care, often working long shifts in physically demanding and high-risk environments. According to federal labor data, healthcare workers have one of the highest rates of injuries in the workplace, roughly three times more likely to experience work-related injuries than employees in many other sectors. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has identified hospitals as among the most dangerous places to work due to patient handling demands, exposure to disease, and workplace violence.

If you suffer a workplace injury while performing your job duties, filing a workers’ compensation claim may protect both your health and your financial stability.

Reasons Nurses Should File a Workers’ Compensation Claim

In North Carolina, most employers are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance if they have three or more employees. Nurses and other healthcare workers who suffer job-related injuries may file a claim for workers’ compensation benefits under state law.

Below are three important reasons to consider filing a claim after a work injury.

1. Protect Your Health and Patient Safety

Common workplace hazards for nurses include slips, trips, falls, exposure to infectious diseases, overexertion, toxic chemicals, sharps injuries, and even violence from patients or visitors.

Trying to continue working while injured can place both your own health and patient care at risk. Back injuries from lifting patients, repetitive strain injuries, and needlestick injuries may worsen without proper treatment.

Workers’ compensation benefits in North Carolina cover all reasonable and necessary medical expenses related to a job injury. Eligible medical treatment may include:

• Doctor visits
• Hospital stays
• Surgeries
• Prescription medications
• Physical therapy
• Rehabilitation services
• Approved medical equipment

There is no deductible for covered treatment under the system.

Prompt medical care not only supports recovery but also helps document that the injury was work-related.

2. Protect Your Income and Financial Stability

Work injuries can create immediate financial strain. Nurses may miss work due to physical injuries, occupational disease, or emotional trauma following workplace violence.

Workers’ compensation benefits in North Carolina provide wage replacement if an injured employee is unable to work. In most cases, eligible workers receive approximately 66 2/3% of their average weekly wage, subject to a maximum weekly compensation rate. For 2026, the maximum weekly workers’ compensation rate in North Carolina is $1,380.00.

Temporary Total Disability (TTD) benefits may apply if a nurse is completely unable to work during recovery. Injured nurses may also be eligible for permanent partial or permanent total disability benefits if the injury results in lasting impairment.

Without filing a workers’ compensation claim, injured employees may lose access to this financial support while medical bills and household expenses continue.

3. The Law Provides a Clear Claim and Appeal Process

Workers’ compensation operates as a no-fault system. Nurses do not need to prove their employer was negligent, but they must show that the injury arose out of and in the course of employment. Claims must be substantiated with evidence demonstrating that the injury was work-related.

In North Carolina:

• Injured employees must notify their employer of the injury within 30 days.
• A formal workers’ compensation claim generally must be filed within two years of the injury date.

Claims are administered through the North Carolina Industrial Commission.

If a workers’ compensation claim is denied, the employee has the right to appeal. The appeals process involves requesting a hearing before the North Carolina Industrial Commission, where the claim can be reviewed and evidence presented.

Understanding these deadlines and procedures is critical to protecting your rights.

Common Workplace Hazards Nurses Face

The healthcare industry presents unique occupational risks. Healthcare workers are exposed to physical, biological, and environmental hazards that are not as common in many other professions. In fact, federal labor data consistently shows that healthcare workers experience some of the highest injury rates among all industries.

Many healthcare workers experience:

• Slips, trips, and falls
• Back injuries from patient handling
• Musculoskeletal injuries due to overexertion
• Exposure to infectious diseases
• Sharps injuries from contaminated medical equipment
• Exposure to hazardous chemicals
• Workplace violence or physical assault

These hazards often arise during routine patient care tasks.

Patient Handling and Musculoskeletal Injuries

One of the most common causes of workplace injury for nurses is lifting, transferring, or repositioning patients. Even when proper body mechanics are used, repetitive physical strain can lead to back injuries, shoulder damage, and chronic musculoskeletal injuries.

These injuries may not occur suddenly. Many develop gradually due to repeated stress over time, particularly in understaffed environments where nurses must move patients frequently.

Slips, Trips, and Falls

Hospitals and healthcare facilities are fast-moving environments. Spilled liquids, medical equipment cords, uneven flooring, and hurried movement between patient rooms can increase the risk of slips and falls.

These incidents may result in fractures, head injuries, sprains, or severe injuries requiring extended recovery.

Infectious Diseases and Sharps Injuries

Nurses and other healthcare professionals are routinely exposed to infectious diseases. Contact with blood, respiratory droplets, or contaminated medical equipment creates risk for occupational illness.

Needlestick and sharps injuries present additional danger. Even a minor puncture can expose a nurse to bloodborne pathogens, requiring testing, monitoring, and medical treatment.

Hazardous Chemicals and Environmental Exposure

In the medical field, nurses may be exposed to cleaning agents, sterilization chemicals, medications, and other hazardous substances. Repeated exposure can contribute to respiratory issues, skin conditions, or other occupational disease concerns.

Workplace Violence

Healthcare facilities also face elevated risks of workplace violence. Nurses may encounter aggressive behavior from patients experiencing medical crises, mental health episodes, or emotional distress. Physical assault remains an unfortunate but documented risk in the healthcare industry.

Registered nurses, certified nursing assistants, nursing assistants, and other healthcare professionals all face elevated risks compared to workers in many other fields. Because injuries can occur during routine patient care, it is important to recognize when an incident may qualify as a workplace injury under workers’ compensation law.

Why Reporting Injuries Matters

Promptly reporting injuries is essential. Failing to report within the required timeframe may jeopardize eligibility for benefits.

Injured employees should document:

• When and where the injury occurred
• What job duties were being performed
• Any witnesses
• Medical treatment received

Strong documentation supports a workers’ compensation case and reduces disputes with the insurance company.

What to Do If Your Workers’ Compensation Claim Is Disputed

Although the workers’ compensation system is designed to provide benefits efficiently, disputes sometimes arise regarding medical treatment approval, wage replacement calculations, or whether an injury qualifies as work-related.

If complications occur, injured nurses may consider speaking with experienced workers’ compensation attorneys to better understand their options. A knowledgeable legal team can help navigate disputes and pursue fair compensation through the appropriate channels.