Nurses are the main care taking body of any hospital, ensuring patients are secure, taken care of, and satisfied during a tough time. Many people underestimate just how hard nurses work, especially when it comes to the hazards that they face day-to-day. Luckily, unions like the California Nurses Association recognize exactly what difficulties nurses face every single day. If you are a member of CNA and were recently injured at work, then you are not alone. By working with your union and filing a workers’ comp claim, you may be eligible for complete repayment of all bills relating to your injury. The California Nurses Association CNA was initially founded in 1903 to support the Californian nurses who faced much harsher working conditions than those today. Now, the CNA (and the National Nurses Organizing Committee) represents 80,000 nurses in the United States. The union is best known for its efforts to provide at-home care to disabled individuals, promote patient safety, and fight for higher wages and fair working hours for nurses across the country. Potential Injuries Members of CNA are exposed to a variety of different hazards every day. Hospitals are notoriously unpredictable, and there is only so much foresight that can prevent certain accidents. The majority of nurses are injured by accidents like: slips and falls on spilled fluids or cleaning solution bumps or collisions while rounding corners trips on machines, hospital beds, or wiring exposure to contagious illnesses As nurses would know better than almost anyone, it is important to get medical attention for these injuries as close to the event as possible. Then, after you are treated and healing, you can begin thinking about the workers’ compensation process. Preparing a Workers’ Compensation Claim Workers’ comp claims involve compiling evidence about your accident and officially informing your employer of why you need compensation. This can take some time, but is well worth the effort. Step One: Write your personal statement. A personal statement should detail everything you know about the accident. What were you doing before it occurred? To the best of your knowledge, what happened during and after the accident? the more details you provide, the more likely your employer will understand and provide proper compensation. Step Two: Compile all supporting evidence. Supporting evidence should come in the form of photos of the accident scene, photos of your injuries, and/or other personal statements from coworkers or patients that witnessed the accident. Anything you can provide that supports your story is helpful here. Step Three: Speak with a CNA representative. Different unions have different ways of going about workers’ compensation claims. CNA will know what direction to point you, and how to help you begin the process of filing your claim. Workers’ Compensation Attorneys While CNA should help a great deal with the workers’ comp process, there is no guarantee that their help will increase your chance of getting the compensation you deserve. Workers’ compensation attorneys are statistically shown to increase applicants’ chances of getting help. They can organize your paperwork, communicate with your employer and union on your behalf, and represent you in case your initial claim is denied.Before filing your workers’ comp claim, consider a free consultation with an attorney in your area. Additional Resources Nurses and Workers Compensation Workers' Compensation in California Disclaimer: The content of this article is purely informative and should not be construed as official legal advice. If you file a claim against your employer or another party, you may not be entitled to any compensation.*
