Healthcare workers perform many tasks that require motor movement, such as lifting, carrying, manipulating equipment, walking, and standing. Roles range from nursing assistants, registered nurses, physical therapists, and physicians to laboratory scientists and pharmacists.
Below are examples of accommodation solutions that may enable workers with disabilities that affect motor movement perform their duties in healthcare settings. Employers should always review and follow applicable workplace safety standards when determining accommodations.
Lifting, Carrying, and Transferring Patients
Note: Training in proper lifting techniques can support employee health and safety and help ensure that essential job tasks are performed efficiently in the healthcare field.
A certified nursing assistant with fibromyalgia who cannot use standard patient lift devices due to space constraints may benefit from team lifts or assistance from a lift buddy during patient transfers.
A physical therapist with a back impairment may use adjustable exam tables and accessible equipment (e.g., low-lipped or roll-in showers) to reduce bending, lifting, and awkward body positions when working with patients.
A registered nurse with bursitis who cannot move adult patients, even with accommodations, may be reassigned to a vacant position in another unit, such as pediatrics or the newborn nursery.
Performing Clinical Tasks and Procedures
Note: Consider safety guidelines, professional standards of care, and equipment-use requirements in combination with accommodation needs.
A home health nurse with an arm amputation may use a one-handed syringe to administer medications.
An infusion nurse with a rotator cuff injury may benefit from a power-lift IV stand to reduce overhead reaching.
A clinical laboratory scientist with essential tremors may use grip aids to improve the handling of test tubes.
Standing, Walking, and Mobility
Note: The layout of the workspace and the distance between common work areas can help determine what mobility supports may be needed.
A speech-language pathologist who experiences walking limitations due to neuropathy may benefit from handrails to help navigate to patient rooms.
A hospital pharmacist with a leg amputation may be provided with anti-fatigue floor matting to reduce discomfort associated with prolonged standing.
A telehealth nurse with chronic pain who requires frequent position changes may benefit from an adjustable workstation that allows both sitting and standing throughout the shift.
Maintaining Sterility and Infection Control
Note: Consult with the infection control department (or designee) regarding facility- or unit-specific requirements.
An anesthetist who uses a wheelchair may use tire covers and perform frequent glove changes to help maintain a sterile environment. A surgical drape can be used to cover exposed areas of the wheelchair.
A pathologist who wears a wrist brace due to carpal tunnel syndrome may use an oversized cleanroom glove to fit over the brace and help maintain a sterile environment.
A surgical technician who uses a wheelchair and must maintain a sterile operating room environment may benefit from having two designated wheelchairs to support safety and infection control by assigning one for sterile areas.
A physician assistant with rheumatoid arthritis who uses a cane in the operating room may use a simple solution, such as a long, narrow plastic cane cover (e.g., an umbrella sleeve) to help maintain a sterile environment.
Scheduling and Organizing Work
Note: Consider workplace policies that address patient care and staffing when making adjustments to schedules, break times, or task distribution.
A charge nurse who experiences fatigue during a 12-hour shift may benefit from periodic breaks, assistive equipment, or job restructuring to reallocate marginal functions while maintaining required staffing ratios.
A midwife with Crohn’s disease may be accommodated with a modified policy to allow food and drink at the workstation, as well as a modified break schedule to allow for smaller, more frequent meals.
A medical assistant with finger numbness from multiple sclerosis may benefit from speech recognition software to enter medical records.
The above are only examples of administrative adjustments, equipment, and assistive technologies that may be effective accommodations for healthcare workers with motor impairments. Every accommodation situation is unique and must be handled on a case-by-case basis. For additional accommodation ideas, or to discuss a specific situation, contact JAN.