The Importance of Work  

Case Management Focus

I hope you and your families had a Happy Labor Day Weekend last week! In light of the holiday, I wanted to share some thoughts about the importance of work. 

How many times do you wish you were ready to retire or that you could take an extended vacation due to the frustrations that come with our jobs?

As the saying goes, be careful what you wish for. I know when I was hit with the news that I could no longer work due to a brain tumor in 2014 – I was devastated.  In a minute, everything that was important to me was taken away without any indication of when things would improve – I was scared as I had no control over the situation and had to depend on others to make decisions on my life.  Over the next five years, with intensive medical care and rehabilitation therapy, I made a full recovery and was eventually able to return to work – although it was not the same work I had been doing, I found a way to secure gainful employment as a Nurse Advocate. Thankfully, as a nurse, I had the skills that allowed me to find my way back to work. 

Work is the cornerstone of our personal identity, our social structure, and our psychological well-being. Being unable to work is a significant loss for both the injured or a person with a complex medical illness and their support system.  Understanding the impact of work on a person can help Workers' Compensation Nurse Case Managers have empathy and support the injured worker in reaching their highest potential within their restrictions. 

The challenge that nurse case managers face when working with an injured worker is to help them stay positive, work through the process, and have realistic expectations as to what they can do, especially in a catastrophic case. 

Let’s look at some ways work impacts a person

Their Personal Fulfillment and Identity

• Work gives us a sense of purpose: It is the reason we get up in the morning, gives us a way to contribute and feel useful. 
• Work gives us our Self-Esteem: This happens when we accomplish tasks and master skills that build our confidence and a sense of achievement.
• Autonomy and Growth: Work allows for personal development, creativity, and decision-making.

Psychological and Emotional Health

• Having a stable routine and goals to help maintain mental clarity and emotional stability.
• The workplace is our social hub for interactions that allows us to feel that we belong to a community. 
• Engaging in work can help people cope with life’s challenges by providing friends, structure, and distraction.

Impact on our self-worth

• Work drives productivity, innovation, and an income to live the life we want to live. 

• Employment fosters shared goals and values, helping bind the workplace together.
• Through work, individuals are able to find ways to contribute to the collective good—whether through public service, caregiving, or innovation.

Research shows that meaningful work is more important than salary or promotions. When people find their work meaningful, they’re more engaged, loyal, and satisfied.

Getting the injured worker back to gainful employment is important for all of the reasons listed above. Getting to know your patients, listening to their fears and goals, and tapping into the resources available to help someone return to work is just as important for the nurse case manager to be aware of as is the medical treatment provided. 

What have you learned in your career to help the injured workers you are called to take care of return to work? I would love to hear about your experiences and what you have found in your life or the lives of your patients that push you to work. Email me at allewellyn48@gmail.com 

Have a good week! 

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