Reproductive hazards facing female health care workers in the hospital: how the nurse practitioner can help

Female health care workers are often exposed to occupational hazards that may adversely affect their reproductive health and the health of their children. This article presents an overview of the problem and, through a case study, focuses on a small sample of agents (aerosol antimicrobials, disinfectants, and infectious diseases) that represent common hospital exposures with reproductive implications. The nurse practitioner's role in identifying and counseling patients who may have exposures to reproductive hazards is discussed.