%0 Journal Article
%T Return-to-work coordinators' resourcefulness and the provision of suitable duties for nurses with injuries
%J Work
%D 2014
%A James, Carole
%A Southgate, Erica
%A Kable, Ashley
%A Rivett, Darren A.
%A Guest, Maya
%A Bohatko-Naismith, Joanna
%V 48
%N 4
%P 557-566
%X BACKGROUND: There is little health specific literature on returning nurses with injuries to work despite the high incidence of injuries and the workforce shortages of these professionals. <br><br>OBJECTIVE: To identify enabling factors and barriers to return-to-work for nurses with injuries from the perspective of return-to-work coordinators. PARTICIPANTS: Workplace return-to-work coordinators employed in a health or disability facility who had worked on a rehabilitation case with a nurse with injuries in the past 12 months in New South Wales (NSW), Australia. <br><br>METHOD: Five focus groups were conducted with 25 return-to-work coordinators from 14 different organisations, representing different health sectors (aged, disability, public and private hospital and community health) in metropolitan and rural areas of NSW, Australia. <br><br>RESULTS: This study reports findings specifically relating to the provision of suitable duties for nurses with injuries. Four key themes were identified: suitable duties; supernumerary positions; nurse specialisation and tailoring of return-to-work plans. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: This study identified that return-to-work coordinators were resourceful and innovative in their approach to the provision of suitable duties for nurses with injuries and highlighted the importance of including clinical duties in any return-to-work program and of tailoring the return-to-work to the nurses' work and personal circumstances.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>
%G en
%I IOS Press
%@ 1051-9815
%U http://dx.doi.org/10.3233/WOR-141915