Table of Contents
Health Hazards Nurses and Midwives May Be Exposed to at Their Working Stations
Nurses and midwives work in environments where they may encounter different hazards that can affect their health and safety. These hazards can be grouped into the following categories:
| Category of Health Hazard | Examples of Hazards (Two Examples Each) |
|---|---|
| 1. Biological Hazards | 1. Exposure to infectious diseases such as tuberculosis (TB), EBOLA through contact with patients or body fluids and air 2. Needle prick injuries and exposure to blood-borne pathogens such as HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B and hepatitis C viruses. |
| 2. Chemical Hazards | 1. Exposure to disinfectants and sterilizing agents such as chlorine and formaldehyde. 2. Exposure to chemotherapy drugs and hazardous medications used in patient treatment. |
| 3. Physical Hazards | 1. Exposure to radiation from X-ray machines and other imaging equipment. 2. Injuries caused by slips, falls, and noise |
| 4. Ergonomic Hazards | 1. Back injuries from lifting and transferring patients incorrectly. 2. Muscle strain caused by prolonged standing or awkward working positions during procedures. |
| 5. Psychological/Psychosocial Hazards | 1. Stress and burnout due to heavy workloads, long working hours, and staff shortages. 2. Emotional distress from dealing with patient deaths, emergencies, uncooperative patients and traumatic events. |
| 6. Mechanical/Safety Hazards | 1. Injuries from sharp instruments such as needles, scalpels, and scissors. 2. Accidents caused by faulty medical equipment |
| 7. Fire and Environmental Hazards | 1. Exposure to fire risks from oxygen cylinders, electrical equipment, and flammable materials. 2. Exposure to poor ventilation, extreme temperatures, or overcrowded work areas. |
question 2
Nurses and midwives are constantly exposed to various infections that require vigilant and constant practice of infection control:
What are universal precautions?
Universal precautions are a set of infection prevention measures set by the WHO to prevent and control infections caused by exposure to biological agents, such as microorganisms
List the universal precautions for nurses and midwives
Universal precautions are infection control measures used in healthcare to prevent the spread of infections. They include:
- Hand hygiene before and after patient contact
- Use of PPE such as gloves, masks, gowns, and goggles
- Safe handling of sharps and proper disposal in puncture-proof containers.
- Proper disposal of infectious waste
- cleaning and disinfection/sterilization of equipmentSafe
- handling of blood and body fluids, Safe
- Injection practices using sterile equipment
- Environmental cleaning of patient areas
- Respiratory hygiene like covering coughs and sneezes
- Safe handling of contaminated linen
question 3
There is an outbreak of Ebola in one of the western districts of the country, and you are enlisted as one of those to handle the outbreak.
List the complete dressing apparel (attire) of a nurse/midwife who is about to enter an isolation space for Ebola patients
A nurse or midwife entering an Ebola isolation area wears full protective equipment to prevent contact with infected body fluids, including:
- Head and face protection: surgical cap, mask/respirator, and face shield or goggles
- Body protection: impermeable gown or full coverall, plus waterproof apron
- Hand protection: double gloves (inner and outer gloves)
- Foot protection: rubber boots or waterproof shoe/boot covers
- Additional protection: sealed coverall and proper PPE sealing materials
question 4
As a health worker, a nurse/midwife is supposed to be skillful enough to recognize a health or safety hazard at his/her workplace
What is the difference between a health hazard and a safety hazard?
| Health Hazard | Safety Hazard |
|---|---|
| A health hazard refers to any situation, event, agent, or condition that can cause illness or disease, producing acute (short-term) or long-term effects that may affect part or the whole of the body. | A safety hazard refers to anything that can cause injury or physical harm to an individual at the workplace, when safety controls such as proper facility designs, rules, and regulations are not followed by employers or employees. |
| It mainly affects a person’s health and body functions. | It mainly results in accidents and injuries. |
| Examples include exposure to infectious agents, harmful chemicals, radiation, dust, and toxic substances. | Examples include falls, electrical accidents, unsafe equipment, fire hazards, and injuries from sharp objects. |
Health hazards in nursing:
- Exposure to infectious diseases (e.g., contact with blood or body fluids)
- Inhaling chemical disinfectants
- Exposure to radiation during imaging procedures
- Needle-stick injuries that may transmit infections
Safety hazards in nursing:
- Slipping on a wet hospital floor
- Getting injured by a sharp instrument
- Lifting patients incorrectly and causing back injury
- Electrical accidents from faulty equipment