Health hazards of nursing: identifying workplace hazards and reducing risks

Nurses often work in settings in which they may be exposed to a wide array of psychosocial, chemical, biological, and physical hazards. The authors outline several ways in which occupational exposures occur and the general process for reducing or preventing workplace hazards. Several commonly encountered workplace hazards and their potential health risks are identified and discussed. Specific health hazards that are addressed include the chemical hazards of antineoplastic and antiviral drugs; the biological hazards of human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B, herpes viruses, rubella, and tuberculosis; and the physical hazards of noise and ionizing and nonionizing radiation. The authors suggest specific preventive measures that nurses can take to make their workplaces safer.