Nurses safety in the workplace is a crucial issue for hospitals around the world.

There is much legislation that currently ensures nurse occupational health and safety. Nonetheless, many hazards have existed throughout the history of nursing, and nurses must practice the utmost care in conducting their professional endeavors in order to avoid disaster.

Current Hazards

The hazards that exist in the workplace for nurses include:

  • Injuries from sharp objects such as needles
  • Exposure to blood and bodily fluid
  • Exposure to biological hazards such as HIV, Tuberculosis, and others
  • Exposure to harmful chemicals
  • Workplace violence
  • Long work shifts
  • Patient handling

Ensuring the Safety of Nurses

There are a variety of ways that hazards can be avoided by nurses in the workplace. Primarily, nursing organizations that employ nurses must strictly adhere to protective legislations. Furthermore, coaching, rest periods, health and safety refresher courses, attentiveness by supervisors, and visible guidelines can prevent instances of hazard exposure.