Korean J Occup Health Nurs.  2013 Nov;22(4):275-284.

Occupational Injuries and Illness of Nursing Staff

• Kim EA

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study analyzed the characteristics of occupational injuries and illnesses of the nursing staff to reveal the prevalence of the major diseases and the predominant causes of the injuries in the nursing environment.
METHODS
Total 3,455 work-related compensation cases of nursing staff from January 1 2000 to December 31 2012, were selected. The specific types of the diseases, injuries, causes and the time of the incidence were analyzed.
RESULTS
Majority of the compensated cases were young women under 30 years old. The composition of the occupational injuries and illness was 74.5% and 25.5%, respectively. Occupational infection was the major part of the occupational illnesses (47.3%), and 74% of them were tuberculosis. Musculoskeletal disorder (12.6%) was followed the infectious disease, and 36.4% of them occurred while moving the patients. Slipping was the most frequent injury; most of them resulted in the lower extremities injury. Most of the injuries increased during shift change, except workplace violence, which increased later than 19:00.
CONCLUSION
Occupational injuries and illnesses of nursing staff need the specific prevention strategy, and the prevention strategy should be suitable for the nursing workplace.

Keyword

Nursing; Occupational Injuries; Illnesses; Workers' compensation

MeSH Terms

Communicable Diseases
Compensation and Redress
Female
Humans
Incidence
Lower Extremity
Nursing Staff*
Nursing*
Occupational Diseases
Occupational Injuries*
Prevalence
Tuberculosis
Workers' Compensation
Workplace Violence