ASSIGNMENT

ON

Occupational Health Hazards and

Management

Subject: Nursing Administration

Submitted To Submitted By

Mrs. Shailza Sharma Prabhpreet Kaur Gill

Assistant Professor M.sc(N)-2 nd Year

Mental Health Nsg. Roll No.-4

 OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH HAZARDS AND
MANAGEMENT

INTRODUCTION

Occupational health hazards have a deleterious effect on individual’s health and safety, as well
as organizational effectiveness. The term occupational safety describes a comprehensive
concept for the protection of employees from health risk in the work place, which results from
the job- related activity itself. Occupational health problems among nurses may be categorized
into four types, namely, biological hazards, chemical hazards, physical hazards, and
psychosocial hazards. Nurses have mastered the art of anticipating and attending to physical and
emotional needs of others. However, nurses tend to forget how to take care of themselves and
each other.
Since the dawn of civilization, virtually all types of occupations have had health hazards. In
some jobs, the associated health problems are more dangerous than in others. Some occupational
hazards are common to many vocations, while others are more peculiar to certain trades. In the
nursing profession, the types of health hazards encountered are varied. Some have existed since
the birth of the nursing industry, but due recognition has only been accorded them recently.
Other health problems are new, mostly a consequence of the rapid advancement in the health
care field in recent times.
It is a well-known fact all over the world that working in a nursing environment is the second
most dangerous job in the health sector. The nursing profession is always at risk of injuries.

DEFINITION

Occupational Health:
The modern definition of Occupational Health (ILO and WHO) is “The promotion and
maintenance of the highest degree of physical, mental and social well-being of workers in all
occupations – total health of all at work”

Occupational Hazard: Source or situation with a potential for harm in terms of injury or ill
health, damage to property, damage to the workplace environment, or a combination of these
Meaning
Occupation = a job or profession
Occupational = having to do with job or profession

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH SERVICES

The joint ILO/ WHO Committee on occupational Health in the course of first session, held in
1950, gave the following general aims and objectives:

1. Promotion and maintenance of the highest degree of physical, mental and social wellbeing
of workers in all occupations.
2. Prevention among workers, of departures from health, caused by their working conditions
3. Protection of workers in their environment from risks resulting from factors adverse to health.
4. Placing and maintenance of workers in an occupational environment adapted to his
physiological and psychological equipment.
5. Identify all the hazardous conditions which might be there in work place.
6. Plan and implement protective control measures to deal with identified hazardous conditions
in work place.
7. Ensure that the physical and psychological demands imposed on workers by their respective
job are properly matched with their individual anatomical, physical and psychological needs.
8. Provide effective services to protect those who are vulnerable to adverse working conditions.
9. Provide effective services to workers who are incapacitated for any reason to rehabilitate
them as soon as possible.

DEVELOPMENT OF OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH PROGAMES IN INDIA

1911- Provision for weekly holidays for all the workers and prohibited employment of women
and children bellow 9 years in the factories.
1934- Factories act revision for appointment of factory inspectors, prevention of accidents and
maintenance of sanitary conditions.
1946- Bhore Committee reported emphasized the need for investigation of occupational
diseases and development of departments for teaching and research in occupational
health
1948- The employees State Insurance act was enacted to provide beneficial step towards social
security for factory workers. The act alleviates economic and physical suffering by
providing benefits in cash and kind during sickness, maternity and occupational injury.

1960- Central labor institute was established in Bombay to study the various aspects of
occupational health. Three regional institutes have been established in India at Kanpur,
Calcutta and Chennai
1973- for first time, public attention drawn to working conditions in factories. It was Major
More who reported on factory conditions in Bombay and mentioned especially about the
working conditions of women and children works.
1981- Indian factories act was enacted; the act prescribed working hours, holidays, and
employment of young men and women and prohibited the employment of women and
children below 9 years in the factories.

OCCUPATIONAL HAZARDS
An Industrial worker may expose to five types of hazards depending upon his occupation.
1. Physical hazards
2. Chemical hazards
3. Biological hazards
4. Mechanical hazards
5. Psychological hazards

Aspects of occupational safety among nurses

The occupational safety issues may broadly be studied under two aspects which are
A. Physical Aspects
B. Psychological aspects
Physical Aspects: Nurses have a critical role in the health care delivery system. They generally
serve as the primary interface with patients. It would be fair to state that the health care delivery
system would cease to function in the absence of nurses.
Physical aspect of occupational health relate to the occupational environment and include :
1. Injuries,
2. Accidents,
3. Ergonomic problems,
4. Physical hazards,
5. Chemical substances,
6. Communicable diseases
7. Violence in the work place.

Psychological aspects: It is now almost universally recognized that nursing is by its nature, is
stressful occupation, Stress can be defined as the harmful physical and emotional responses that
occur when the requirements of the job do not match the capabilities, recourses or needs of the
worker. Job stress has been linked with
1. Cardiovascular diseases,
2. Musculoskeletal disorders,
3. Depression
4. Burnout.

Occupational Health hazards in Nursing

Occupational health problems among nurses may be categorized into four types, namely,
biological hazards, chemical hazards, physical hazards, and psychosocial hazards.

A. Biological hazards
Broadly, biological hazards comprise various infectious diseases.
1. Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is a recognized occupational hazard among hospital personnel. A WHO review of
this hazard showed that hospital personnel had prevalence rates which were three to six times
higher than those of the general population; the most common mode of transmission of HBV is
blood.
Thus, it is not surprising that inoculation injuries from contaminated needles and scalpels, as well
as contamination of skin abrasions and wounds by infected blood, pose a significant risk. The
rate of seroconversion after the percutaneous injection of blood or serum from HBs Ag-positive
patients has been quoted to range from 12 to 17 %, even after passive immunization of recipients
by serum globulins

2. Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

As of 30 June 1990, a total of 266098 cases of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)
had been reported to WHO by 157 countries from all continents. This dreaded modern-day
pandemic caused by human immunodeficiency viruses can be transmitted in health care settings
through inoculation injuries from contaminated needles or exposure of abraded skin or mucous
membrane to blood or body fluids infected by a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) In fact,
needlestick injury has been identified as the most important mechanism of transmitting HIV to
health care workers. In many ways, the major modes of spreading a HIV bear a close
resemblance to those of HBV. In view of the escalating magnitude of the AIDS pandemic and
reports of transmission of HIV to health care workers during work, it is understandable that
concern has surfaced among nurses about the occupational risk of HIV infection.

3.Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis continues to remain a serious public health problem in many developing countries.
It has been estimated that these countries account for over three-fourths of the some 8-10
million new cases of TB in the world each year.

There is evidence that some of these countries are experiencing a rise in the incidence of TB in
recent times. In such places, the risk of infection to nurses is indeed real, especially from
undiagnosed tuberculosis cases.
In contrast, the incidence of TB in many developed nations has declined dramatically over the
last few decades.
 Tuberculosis is now recognized as one of the most common opportunistic infections in patients
seropositive for HIV-I. In view of this new development, nurses in countries with high HIV-I
infection rates will probably experience a greater risk of contracting TB in the future unless
preventive measures are taken. These measures include setting up a screening and surveillance
program and immunizing tuberculin-negative health personnel with the Bacillus-Calmette-
Guerin vaccine

4. Other infections
Viral infections with known teratogenic effects are hazards of concern to nurses in the
reproductive age group, especially those who are pregnant. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection
and rubella infection are two such examples. However, in the case of CMV, reviews of the
medical literature by groups in Canada and Scotland led to the conclusion that infection with
CMV is not an occupational hazard among those caring for infants and young children.
Nonetheless, the need for careful hand washing cannot be over emphasized. With regard to
rubella, sero negative nurses of childbearing age who are not pregnant should be given the
rubella vaccine. Another viral infection with an established occupational risk for health care
worker s is herpes ic whitlow. It is a herpes simplex viral infection of the digits resulting from
contact with secretions containing the virus. The transmission of Clostridium difficile infection
from a patient to three nurses has been reported. The authors believed that this infection may be
an important hazard to health care workers.

B. Chemical hazards
Chemical hazards in the health care setting include certain classes of drugs and some agents
used in equipment sterilization. With the introduction of more chemical-based substances into
medical practice, it is likely that more of the same will enter the list of suspected or confirmed
occupational hazards to nurses in due course.

1. Cytotoxic drugs
The safety of cytotoxic drugs to nurses who handle them has been the subject of much debate.
The finding of increased mutagenic activity in the urine of nurses who handled these agents has
triggered caution about the possible adverse effects of such drugs to persons who deal with them.
However, in another study, cyclophosphamide was found in urine specimens of two oncology
nurses involved in the preparation of this drug. This finding raises the possibility that significant
absorption of the drug by the two oncology nurses could have taken place.
It was suggested that the increased levels of mutagenicity observed in urine specimens of
oncology. Nurses might have arisen in part from metabolites of cyclophosphamide. In view of
the known side-effects of cytotoxics, such as second malignancies, this finding is important.

2. Anesthetic agents

Adverse health effects which have been attributed to occupational exposure to anesthetic agents
include unfavorable reproductive outcome, liver diseases, kidney ailments, and interference with
vitamin B12 metabolism. Most studies exploring the link between anesthetic gas exposure and
spontaneous miscarriage among health care workers have relied on questionnaire Surveys
comparing retrospectively the reproductive outcomes of those who have been exposed with those
who have not been exposed. A major problem associated with such studies is the possibility of
recall bias. Furthermore, the response rates in many studies were rather low. In some studies,
differing response rates between the groups being compared generate further doubts about the
validity of the findings.
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health in the United States has recommended
a maximum exposure level of 2 ppm for halothane and 25 ppm for nitrous oxide. It is reassuring
to note that the evidence for other suspected hazards like malignancy, teratogenic effects, low
birth weight and infertility was deemed unconvincing. Furthermore, trace concentrations of
anesthetics did not appear to impair psychomotor performance to any significant extent.
However, efforts must be made to ensure that the levels of anesthetic gases in the work
environment of nurses are kept below recommended limits. Towards this end, it may be
necessary to install effective scavenging systems.

3. Antibiotics

Sensitization to antibiotics, especially penicillins, among nurses is well documented. In an

interviewer-administered questionnaire study in Sri Lanka, sensitivity to penicillin and other
substances was found to be more common among hospital staff nurses than among a reference
group of teachers (6.4 %) Nearly one-third of those staff nurses who gave a history of allergy
 were allergic to penicillin only. Of those who were allergic to penicillin, 51 % developed the
allergy within 10 years of service

4. Ethylene oxide

Ethylene oxide is commonly used in health care facilities as a sterilizing agent for heat-sensitive
medical equipment. However, concern has been expressed about its safety. Ethylene oxide is
suspected to be a carcinogen. The most vulnerable part of the body appears to be the bone
marrow. Finnish researchers have suggested that exposure to ethylene oxide may carry a risk of
spontaneous abortion for sterilizing staff. In their study, the spontaneous abortion rate for
exposed pregnancies was 16.7 % as compared with 5.6 % for unexposed gestations. This
difference persisted even after adjustment for the effects of age, parity, decade of pregnancy,
smoking habits, and intake of coffee and alcohol

5. Formaldehyde
Formaldehyde irritates mucous membrane and impairs the mucociliary mechanism. In rare
massive acute exposures, pulmonary edema may result. Among the disinfectants, formaldehyde
has been found to be the most common cause of occupational dermatitis among nurses.
Occupational asthma resulting from exposure to formaldehyde has been documented for nurses.
However, in a report by the Council on Scientific Affairs of the American Medical Association,
no significant impairment in pulmonary function was noted in the few studies cited.
However, the same noted that brief exposures could trigger nonspecific airway hyper
responsiveness. The carcinogenic potential of this agent in humans remains controversial. Some
studies have cited excesses of certain tumors among exposed workers, while findings for others
were contradictory. Nevertheless, the Environmental Protection Agency and the National
Institute for Occupational Safety and Health in the United States have classified formaldehyde
as a possible human carcinogen
.
6. Glutaraldehyde
In medical facilities, glutaraldehyde is an excellent disinfectant for the cold sterilization of
endoscopes. Like other chemical agents mentioned in the preceding passages, its use is not
without adverse effects. This agent seems to act both as an irritant and as an allergen.
 Recognized disorders following exposure to glutaraldehyde include rhinitis, asthma, and contact
dermatitis.

Other chemical hazards

7. Chlorhexidine has been shown to be a cause of irritant contact dermatitis among nurses. In
addition, cases of occupational asthma caused by chlorhexidine and alcohol aerosols in a
practical nurse and a midwife have been described recently.

8. Acrylic cement vapor has been incriminated as the cause of a case of corneal ulcer in an
operation nurse. A case of occupational asthma in a nurse working in an orthopedic theater
was attributed to methyl methacrylate, a constituent of acrylic cement.

9. Rubber gloves can sensitize users and cause local contact urticaria. A study in Finland
revealed that the frequency of this allergy among doctors and nurses in operating units was
6.4 070. In addition, a case of asthma attributed to vapor given off by general purpose rubber
gloves has been published. These findings are important in view of the fact that rubber gloves
are worn as certain procedures are performed. This practice is likely to be more widespread
in the current pandemic of HIV infection. Psyllium is a constituent of bulk laxatives.
Sensitization to psyllium following occupational exposure has been shown for nurses. The
allergic manifestations in affected nurses include rhinitis and asthma.

C. Physical hazards

In the execution of their duties, nurses face various hazards of a physical nature. According to
Feldman needle puncture, sprains, and back injuries were the most common injuries sustained
by hospital employees in a study conducted by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and
Health in the United States. Other physical hazards of note include assaults and radiation.
1. Needlestick injury

Needlestick injury is one of the most frequent occupational accidents among nursing
professionals. McCormick & Maki reported that needlestick injury accounted for one-third of
all work-related accidents reported by hospital personnel at the University of Wisconsin.
Nurses accounted for nearly two-thirds of the total reported cases of needlestick injury in two
American studies. In terms of annual incidence rate, McCormick & Maki reported the following
results: 92.6 needlestick injuries per 1000 registered nurses, 127.0 per 1000 housekeeping staff,
and 104.7 per 1000 laboratory personnel. In their study, Ruben et al disclosed that the average
annual incidence rate was highest for nurses (23 wounds per 100 nurses). An important
consideration in assessing findings based on records is the problem of underreporting,
particularly with nurses who tend to make their own judgment regarding the extent of the injury
Thus, the actual magnitude of needlestick injury is probably much higher than the reported
figures.
Although the acute consequence of needlestick injury is usually a temporary disability, there is a
serious risk of long-term repercussions which may result in permanent disability. The threat of
contracting viral hepatitis and HIV infection has been noted earlier. Needlestick injury and cuts
from sharp instruments account for 76 % of occupational exposures to HIV among health care
workers.
There is also a risk of sepsis following needlestick the recapping of used needles was found to
be the cause of one-third of the needlestick injuries. To rely on an inherently safe device than to
depend on human effort to change work habits. Nonetheless, both approaches have important
roles to play in the attempt to surmount the problem of needlestick injury.

2. Back pain and back injuries (ergonomic problems)

Back pain is a leading complaint among working people. It affects more than half of the
working population at some time during their careers. Workers in the health industry, especially
nurses, are particularly prone to develop back pain in the course of their work. In Israel, a
survey of eight occupations found that only workers in heavy industries had a higher rate of
back pain than nurses. High rates of back pain have also been documented among nurses in
several other countries. Finnish researchers reported that 79 % of qualified nurses and 85 % of
nursing assistants had had at least one episode of low-back pain prior to their survey.
In Great Britain, another questionnaire survey of back pain in the nursing profession found an
annual prevalence (person) of 431 per 1000 nurses.

Back pain and back injuries are important causes of morbidity among nurses. These problems
are recognized as major sources of incapacity and ill-health retirement from the nursing
profession. In their study, Harber et al reported that 29 % of nurses had resorted to the use of
analgesics to relieve their back pain in the preceding six months. In a five-year prospective
survey of low-back injuries to nurses due to patient-handling which resulted in absence from
work, 27 % of injured nurses had evidence of prolapsed intervertebral lumbar disc lesion.

Heap reported that 12 % of nurses with low-back injuries had premature employment
termination. With the current shortage of nursing personnel in many countries, the health
industry factors of back pain among nurses, various researchers have identified the importance
of a previous history of back pain, work activities, and job category. The recurrent tendency of
back pain in nurses is illustrated by the finding that 84.7 % of nurses with back pain have more
than one episode. Work activities have been found to be significantly associated with back pain
in nurses. The act of lifting patients has been documented to be the activity most commonly
reported by nurses to be associated with back pain and back injuries.
Research revealed that poor patient-handling skill was one of the major risk indicators of back
pain and back injuries in nurses.
Thus patient-handling skills appear to offer some protection against back injury. From the
available knowledge of biomechanical principles, this assumption is indeed plausible. Perhaps
the lack of evidence regarding the effectiveness of training has to do with quality, duration, and
frequency of training.

3. Assaults
Nurses are at risk of assault during the course of their work. This statement applies to both
hospital and community nurses. Among hospital nurses, the high risk areas include accident and
emergency units and psychiatric units.
Howie reported that a questionnaire survey of the Health and Safety Executive in Great Britain
among community and hospital nurses found that 17.5 % of 3000 respondents had been
threatened in the year prior to the survey. About 11 070 of the respondents had received minor
injuries.
Convey noted that nurses were more likely than any other group of professional people to be
victims of an attack. From the data published in Howie's article, nurses accounted for 54.2 % of
major violent occurrences and 75.6 % of minor violent episodes. Assaults were also found to be
underreported by nurses.
Although the vast majority of assaults on nurses result in no visible or minor injuries, assaults
can have significant effects on the affected nurses. Among the adverse reactions experienced by
assaulted nurses were anxiety, sleep disturbances, and symptoms consistent with a diagnosis of
posttraumatic stress disorder. In some victims, these symptoms persist for more than two weeks.

4. Radiation
Radiation can be grossly divided into ionizing and non ionizing forms. The potential adverse
effects of exposure to ionizing radiation are well recognized. They include malignant diseases,
genetic damage, unfavorable reproductive outcome, and radiation illness.
Sources in the medical setting include equipment used in diagnostic radiology and therapeutic
radiology, as well as radiopharmaceuticals. Thus nurses serving in units dealing directly with
these sources are at risk if recommended protection guidelines are not followed. In addition,
nurses in other units who have to accompany patients for procedures involving the
aforementioned sources are also in potential jeopardy.
However, it is reassuring to note that a study which monitored nursing personnel staffing a
coronary care unit over a three-year period found no evidence of a significant occupational
hazard to nurses working in such units. The author stated that adherence to standard protective
measures would preclude most exposure to machine-produced radiation.
One of the important types of non ionizing radiation used in health care facilities is laser beams.
The application of lasers in the field of medicine is widespread and increasing. The greatest risk
from laser beams is retina damage, which can result from inadvertent exposure, either from a
direct beam or indirectly from beams reflected off shiny surfaces

5. Bladder health

This problem arises when nurses suppress the desire to void during working hours due to high
patient loads, heavy demands, and long working days. Maintenance of good bladder health is
important and possible through drinking 6-8 glasses of water daily, voiding every 3-4 hourly,
 attending urge to void (bathroom break) and avoid pressure on bladder (lifting, bending
forward, awkward position etc.)

6. Accidents

Cut injuries, Falls, back injuries due to wet floor, bed making, lifting, and lack of personal
safety equipment.

D. Psychosocial hazards
Psychosocial hazards of concern to nurses include mental stress, and shift work. The risk of
suicide is increased. It is now universally recognized that nursing is by its very nature, a
stressful occupation
1. Stress
The task of tending to the needs of the sick, the disabled, and the dying can be very stressful.
Employees in the health industry face significant risks of "burnout" which involves emotional
exhaustion, depersonalization, and low productivity associated with feelings of low
achievement. A British study showed that 80 % of nurses suffered from moderate to severe
burnout. Psychological burnout is a recognized hazard of caring for patients with terminal
illness, including AIDS. In fact, with AIDS, the emotional demands of the patients seem to
surpass those inherent in caring for patients with cancer.

The fact that the majority of AIDS victims are in their prime of life adds to the stress
experienced by many health professionals who care for them. Among health care workers,
nurses seem to have-a higher level of stress than physicians and pharmacists.
This finding was revealed in a study using the Health Professions Stress Inventory (HPSI) to
compare stress levels among these three groups of health care workers.
Another study showed significant variations in the levels of occupational stress experienced by
health care workers in different units within a hospital.
Sources of Stress
Lack of reward, work load, staffing, role conflict, role ambiguity, meeting emotional needs of
the patient, leadership style, professional conflict.
2. Shift work
There is a variety of shift patterns employed in various health care facilities. The nature of the
work performed by nurses makes shift work inevitable. However, shift work can have
deleterious effects on affected workers. These effects include disruption of social and family life
and the disentrainment of circadian rhythm. The latter may result in sleep disturbances, fatigue,
and impaired work performance and safety awareness. In addition, nurses with medical
conditions such as diabetes mellitus, asthma, and epilepsy may have exacerbations of their
illness due to a desynchronization of their body clock.

3. Suicide
The emotional stress which is inherent in the job of nursing appears to affect the mental health
of nurses. Among all professional, nursing has one of the highest rates of suicide. A study in the
United States on the mortality patterns of registered nurses in Wisconsin for the period 1963-
1977 revealed that the strongest association of cause of death to the occupation was suicides,
reported to be 50 010 higher than in other groups.

Related factors
The consequences of psychosocial hazards faced by nurses can also be costly to patients and
health facilities. To patients, the quality of care may be affected, albeit unintentional, whereas
health facilities stand to lose talents when affected nurses succumb to these hazards and opt out
of their profession. Presently, in many parts of the world, nursing staff shortages are a major
problem reaching crisis proportions. Without doubt, psychosocial factors in the work
environment of nurses have an important contributory role in fueling this problem.

In addressing the issue of nursing grievances, recent surveys which showed that psychosocial
factors featured prominently as reasons given by nurses who had intentions of leaving their jobs.
The shortage of nurses is in itself a source of stress since those who continue in this field will
have to shoulder a greater burden. There is clearly need for a concerted effort by health
authorities and nurses to address psychosocial issues in the nursing industry. Otherwise, the
current shortage of nurses will persist or worsen.
 OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH MANAGEMENT OF NURSES IN
HOSPITAL

The Indian factories Act 1948 provides for the health, safety and welfare of employees. It has
provisions regarding carrying loads, working hours and holidays.
The employees’ State Insurance Act 1948 is another measure of social security and health
insurance in our country.

Prevention of Occupational Diseases

The various measures for the prevention of occupational diseases among nurses may be grouped
under three heads
1. Medical measures
2. Engineering measures
3. Legislation

1. Medical Measures:
a. Pre-placement examination: It is done at the time of employment and includes
worker’s medical, family, occupational and social history through physical examination
eg. Chest x –ray, electro-cardiogram, vision testing, urine and blood examination,
special test for endemic diseases. The purpose of pre-placement examination is to place
right employee in the right job.

b. Periodical examination: It will be depending upon the type of occupational exposure,

ordinary workers are examined ones a year but certain occupational exposure, and
monthly physical examinations are indicated e. radiation, tuberculosis ward.

c. Medical and health care services: The Employee State Insurance Scheme provides
medical care not only for the worker but also his family

d. Notification: national laws and regulations (Indian factories act 1976) require the
notification of suspected cases of occupational diseases.
 e. Supervision of working environment: Periodic inspection of working environment
provides information of primary importance in prevention of occupational disabilities,
Aspects of working environment such as temperature, lightning, ventilation, humidity,
noise, cubic space, air pollution, and sanitation, occurrence of fatigue, night work, shift
work, weight carried by nurses and general hygiene.

f. Maintenance and analysis of records: Proper records are essential for planning. Health
records and occupational disability records must be maintained.

g. Health education and counseling: This include correct use of protective devices like
mask and gloves , lifting techniques, hand washing, and periodic in service education.

2. Engineering Measures
a. Design of buildings
b. Good house keeping
c. General ventilation
d. Substitution
e. Enclosure
f. Isolation
g. Local exhaust ventilation
h. Protective devices
i. Research

3. Legislation
The Factories Act 1948 provides for the health, safety and welfare of the workers. It
has provision regarding carrying loads, working hours and holidays.
The Employees’ State Insurance Act 1948 is another measure of social security and health
insurance in our country.
Role of TNAI: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has given top priority to resolution on
nursing and nursing profession adopted by TNAI council, which relate to: nurse patient ratio
and staffing pattern, inclusion of nursing staff in planning and decision-making committee,
improving working conditions of nurses, conducting staff development programmes and
developing skill among students (ICN,2006)

THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

1. The nurse administrator has to implement the universal precautions, protective

personal equipment and compulsory HBV vaccination, needleless delivery system and
non-latex gloves, periodic breaks, safe working environment and safe patient lifting
devices or lifting teams to prevent musculoskeletal disorders.
2. Improving shift work schedule by avoiding permanent night shift, avoiding quick
shift change and planning some free weekends
3. Nurses must be given opportunity to discuss their problems at work periodically
with colleagues, supervisors, administrators and counselors.
4. Nurse administrator should provide Stress-free Work Environment
(professional autonomy over practice) It is Nursing control over the practice
environment.
5. Effective communication not only improves the quality of care but also nurses own
the health status and quality of life.
6. There should be provision of stress management center with components of
massage table computerized stress assessments, a VCR and monitor, a stereo
system, reclining lounge chair and an extensive audio, video and text lending
library.
7. A stress audit to be done which identifies the stressors, psychological and physical
health symptoms, high risk groups, predictors of stressor outcomes and finally to make
recommendations for future action.
 CONCLUSION

Organizations must consider what they can do to eliminate occupational physical

problems and workplace stressors. This will necessarily result in improved well being of
the individual as well as increased effectiveness of the organization
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