Occupational medicine’s role in return to work of the nurse bitten by belgian sheperds: Report of a case

Abstract

The aim is to accentuate the role of Occupational medicine (OM) when establishing fitness for work. A nurse, now 55, in 2014 was attacked by two Belgian Shepherds whilst picking asparagus in woods. She suffered scalp (still today partially without hair) and thorax injuries and on extremities partial and permanent muscles loss. She was treated by a surgeon, neurologist, psychologist, and psychiatrist. Applied were Cognitive Non – Verbal Test (CNT), Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI-201), Stress Perception Scale (PSS-10) and Beck’s depression inventory. The patient is on sick leave since March 2014. In December 2015 she came to OM specialist for work assessment. After suffering polytrauma it was suggested she takes on a less demanding job for the beginning of reintegration. Although unstable and walking with a crutch, the patient expressed strong will to go back to work. The management at the time did not find appropriate workplace for her, so she stayed on sick leave until April 2017. Then the new OM assessment was demanded. CNT showed that general intellectual efficacy is preserved and that the functioning is on the average level. MMPI showed increased levels for hypochondria, anxiety, aggressiveness, schizoid behavior and conversion. At the end, it was concluded that at present the patient was not capable to work as a nurse for now, but she could work as a clerk. The patient fully accepted that decision as well as the new management.