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Appendix B: Environmental Hazards for the Nurse as a Worker
Pages 134-141

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From page 134...
... Of the 2,518,000 nurses, 882,647 (35%) are employed in hospitals, and the rest in other health care settings including but not limited to nursing homes, health maintenance organizations, physicians' offices, community health agencies, schools, and corporations.
From page 135...
... , after contaminated blood enters a break in the skin or splatters onto mucous membranes, or upon ingestion. The OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard has provisions for preventing Hepatitis B in healthcare workers including Hepatitis B vaccine, education, procedures for sterilization and disinfection, and use of personal protective clothing.
From page 136...
... Immune status should be determined when feasible for employees with direct patient care responsibilities and appropriate immunizations should be offered. Human immunodeficiency virus may be acquired by exposure to infected blood or body fluids.
From page 137...
... has recommended exposure limits for nitrous oxide and the halogenated compounds. Nurses have potential exposure to formaldehyde when they work in renal dialysis units, during the transfer of tissue to formalin in preparation for pathology, and as a residue when it is used for the disinfection of operating rooms.
From page 138...
... Nursing activities such as lifting patients in bed, helping patients out of bed, transferring patients from the bed, and carrying equipment weighing 30 pounds or greater are the most frequent causes of back pain. Back injuries in hospital nursing personnel account for greater than half the total compensation payments for back injury and it is estimated that greater than 764,000 lost work days are incurred each year (Garrett et al., 19921.
From page 139...
... The worker's attitude and behavior may be adversely affected, leading to decreased job performance, and increased absenteeism. Methods for coping with stress include regularly scheduled staff meetings; development of a stress management program and adequate coping mechanisms; availability of an employee assistance program; flexibility and worker participation in development of work schedules; appropriate training and educational sessions; creation of an organized and efficient work environment (to the extent that this can be accomplished)
From page 140...
... Preventive measures include adequate security In high risk areas, staff training upon hire and annually, written procedures for controlling violent patients, worker participation on the hospital health and safety committee, and use of legal action against the assaultive party and the institution. CONCLUSION In summary, nurses are subject to exposure to environmental hazards through their contact with patients, physical and psychological job demands, and as a result of the drugs and technology with which they work.
From page 141...
... McAbee, R.R., Galluci, B.J., Checkoway, H., Adverse reproductive outcomes and occupational exposures among nurses: an investigation of multiple hazardous exposures. AAOHN Journal, 1993, 41:3, pp 110-119.


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