Protecting Nurses During Pregnancy: Cross-Sectional Study of Workplace Exposures and Modifications

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Occupational Health
• Reproductive Health

Background:

• Pregnant nurses face unique occupational hazards impacting their well-being.
• Limited research exists on psychosocial effects of these hazards and mitigation strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• Examine associations between pregnancy-related fear and stress, occupational exposures, and workplace modifications.
• Investigate these factors among pregnant registered nurses in the US.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional online survey (November 2021-April 2022) with 358 pregnant registered nurses.
• Log-binomial regression models adjusted for age and parity.
• Assessed prevalence ratios for stress and fear linked to exposures and modifications.

Main Results:

• Emotional and physical environmental hazards correlated with increased stress.
• Environmental hazards, physical exertion, antineoplastic medication administration, and infectious disease risks increased fear.
• Each additional exposure raised stress prevalence by 4% and fear by 12%.
• Workplace modifications like schedule changes, infection precautions, and seeking CPR assistance were associated with reduced stress and fear.

Conclusions:

• Occupational exposures significantly increase stress and fear in pregnant nurses.
• Workplace modifications are utilized but vary by stress/fear levels and trimester.
• Interventions addressing modifiable hazards and improving modification access are crucial.