ABSTRACT
Many healthcare leaders overlook many of the safety and health concerns of healthcare personnel. Workplace stressors can contribute to disease and risk of injury in patient care environments. Stressors include factors related to tasks, organizational dynamics, and constant changes occurring in healthcare settings. Nursing personnel can experience significant physical and psychological demands during accomplishment of patient care duties. Nursing hazards can include stress and risk of infections. Leaders must understand the physical job demands such as patient lifting, working awkward postures, needlestick risks, chemical exposures, and potential workplace violence incidents. Healthcare organizations in the United States employ more than two million registered nurses. Organizations also employ more than three million practical nurses, vocational nurses, and nursing assistants. Long working hours can result in simple fatigue that can hinder patient safety efforts. Leaders should consult frontline nursing personnel when working to identify processes contributing to adverse patient events and medical errors. Senior leaders must also find ways to orient and educate nursing personnel about safety-related issues (Tables 12.1 and 12.2).
