// Occupations and Workplaces

Nurse (Registered)

What should I know before reading about this occupation? This profile summarizes the common issues and duties for a registered nurse.

// Issues
26
// Requirements
30
// Page links
68
Contents Portal Graph
  • context This profile summarizes the common issues and duties for a registered nurse. Nurses can work in a wide variety of health care settings or workplaces. Depending on where you live, the duties of a nurse (registered, licensed practical, aid versus other types of nursing) may vary.
  • context Because each workplace is unique, there is no way to predict all of the possible hazards you may encounter. This summary focuses on the major job duties that most nurses would have in common when working in a hospital.

Main duties of a registered nurse include: Some nurses may specialize in other fields such as occupational health or public health. Occupational health nurses can provide employee health education programs and care in private businesses or industries. Public health nurses offer health education through either public health departments or through home visits.

  • duty assess, plan, implement and evaluate a patient's care along with other members of the health care team.
  • duty administer medications and treatments as ordered by a doctor.
  • duty monitor, record and report symptoms or changes in a patient's condition.
  • duty use proper techniques for dressing changes, ensuring infection control, etc.
  • duty use or monitor medical equipment.
  • duty assist in surgery and with other medical procedures.
  • duty supervise nursing assistants and other nursing staff.
  • duty provide safety and health education to individuals and families.
  • duty cleaning or disinfecting patients' beds and rooms.

Hazards typically fall into one of six general categories as listed below. For more information on that issue, prevention, or how to work safely with a product, click on the links, where provided throughout this document.

Biological

  • biological Nurses can be exposed to contagious and infectious diseases including those that can be transmitted through the air (e.g., TB - tuberculosis), blood-borne diseases such as AIDS, hepatitis B and C and hand to hand transmission (e.g., Clostridium difficile). There is also the risk of exposure to multi-drug resistant organisms such as multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and others.
  • biological Nurses are also at risk for exposure to novel (new) viruses, such as coronavirus (COVID-19), SARS, etc.
  • biological As a consequence of the need for frequent hand washing, skin conditions such as dermatitis may occur.
  • biological Illness as the result of a needlestick injury is also a concern.

Chemical

In a hospital environment, nurses may encounter:

  • chemical various chemicals used for general janitorial cleaning as well as for disinfecting and sterilizing.
  • chemical anesthetic gases as well as waste anesthetic gases.
  • chemical latex (in gloves and equipment).
  • chemical exposure to other chemicals, compressed gases, products, pharmaceuticals and medicine, including opiods and cytotoxic (anti-neoplastic) drugs.

Ergonomic

There are many situations where physical demands involve force, repetition, awkward postures and prolonged activities. These include:

  • ergonomic walking or standing for long periods of time.
  • ergonomic lifting.
  • ergonomic overexertion (reaching, carrying, etc.).

Physical

Nurses can be exposed to:

  • physical radiation: both x-rays and radiation from radioisotopes.
  • physical lasers.

Safety

  • safety In a hospital, there are many situations where equipment are in various places, liquid on floors, etc. The main hazards from these situations are slips, trips and falls. There is also a risk of items falling onto the person.
  • safety Nurses may also be exposed to burns or scalds from hot sterilizing equipment, and stabs or cuts from sharp objects.

Psychological

  • psychosocial Nurses often experience various forms of violence at work, including when working alone and working alone with patients.
  • psychosocial Responsibility of care, emergencies, and the need to make certain decisions when others cannot be found can increase the stress experienced by some people. Exposure to serious traumatic events (or consequence of the event) is another cause of stress. As with most emergency services, there will be long periods of quiet or routine interrupted abruptly by periods of intense stress or activity.
  • psychosocial Most nurses work shifts or extended work days , which may cause fatigue or have health effects.
  • psychosocial However, it is important to note the positive aspects of being a nurse. It is a highly respected profession and highly valued in the community. Also, there is usually a high sense of team membership.

Several target organs may be adversely affected by prolonged exposure to chemicals including the respiratory, neurologic, reproductive, dermal, and hematopoietic systems. For example, ethylene oxide has been classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as a known human carcinogen (Group 1). Other long-term health effects may include: Source: Nurse, general (institutional) From: International Hazard Datasheets on Occupations, International Occupational Safety and Health Information Centre (CIS).

  • chemical adverse effects from long-time exposure to chemicals like medications (e.g., anti-neoplastic drugs), sterilizing agents (e.g., glutaraldehyde), and anesthetic gases.
  • psychosocial fatigue.
  • general lower back pain.
  • general diseases such as tuberculosis and hepatitis B and C.
  • biological infectious skin irritation and dermatoses from frequent use of soaps, detergents and disinfectants.
  • general latex allergy.
  • requirement Hand washing and routine practices and other measures are extremely important for the reduction of infections. Be sure to use moisturizers to prevent your skin from drying.
  • requirement Learn proper techniques to avoid needlestick injuries.
  • ppe Always use the correct personal protective equipment (PPE) or other barriers for the task. In some cases, latex gloves will not be appropriate (e.g., cleaning with certain chemicals).
  • ppe Wear appropriate footwear (for walking/standing, as well as protection from dropped objects).
  • requirement Learn safe patient lifting techniques - create a safe patient handling program.
  • requirement If a job requires work in an awkward position (e.g., with hands above shoulder level), be sure to take frequent breaks.
  • requirement Follow a recommended shift work pattern, and be aware of the hazards associated with shift work.
  • requirement Take steps to encourage better sleep, including "good" eating habits that help encourage sleep.
  • requirement Consider offering a debriefing or session after a critical event to help reduce the impact of stress.
  • administrative Ask your workplace to establish safe procedures for working alone or develop procedures where this situation can be avoided altogether.
  • requirement Keep all hallways and passages clear of clutter and equipment.
  • engineering Install and maintain adequate ventilation for the area.
  • requirement Keep all radiation levels to a minimum and wear a radiation dosimeter, as recommended by the radiation safety officer or regulatory authorities.
  • administrative If work is in the nuclear medicine department or involves working with patients being treated or tested by such departments, staff should be given appropriate training to prevent or control exposure to radiation sources.

Nurses will need to know: All workers should:

  • requirement the risks associated with blood-borne diseases (e.g., AIDS, hepatitis B and C).
  • requirement hand washing.
  • requirement routine practices.
  • ppe proper selection, use, maintenance and storage of PPE, where appropriate.
  • ppe selection of footwear and respiratory protection.
  • biological prevention of needlestick injuries.
  • requirement manual material handling (lifting) techniques.
  • requirement safe patient handling.
  • requirement information about shift work.
  • requirement information about fatigue.
  • requirement violence (general).
  • requirement what to do when working alone (general information) and working alone with patients.
  • requirement how to work safety with compressed gases.
  • requirement follow hospital or company safety rules.
  • requirement know about WHMIS and SDSs.
  • administrative know your hazard reporting procedures.
  • administrative follow good housekeeping procedures.

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Diseases, Disorders, Injuries

Notes for this occupation. Open one to read the practices and the protection it calls for.

Diseases, Disorders, Injuries Dermatitis, Irritant Contact
10 practices Open →
Diseases, Disorders, Injuries Hepatitis B
4 practices Open →
Diseases, Disorders, Injuries Hepatitis C
2 practices Open →
Diseases, Disorders, Injuries Latex Allergy
6 practices hand protection Open →
Diseases, Disorders, Injuries Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR-TB)
2 practices Open →
Diseases, Disorders, Injuries Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)
0 practices Open →
Diseases, Disorders, Injuries HIV/AIDS Precautions - Health Care
13 practices hand protection Open →

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Lasers

Notes for this occupation. Open one to read the practices and the protection it calls for.

Lasers Lasers - Health Care
47 practices eye protectionhand protectionrespiratory protection Open →

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Lifting, pushing, pulling

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Lifting, pushing, pulling Back Injury Prevention
56 practices Open →
Lifting, pushing, pulling MMH - Health Hazards
0 practices Open →

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Pandemics

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Pandemics Coronavirus
20 practices respiratory protection Open →
Pandemics Hand Washing: Reducing the Risk of Common Infections
0 practices Open →

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Radiation

Notes for this occupation. Open one to read the practices and the protection it calls for.

Radiation Radiation - Quantities and Units of Ionizing Radiation
9 practices Open →

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Shiftwork

Notes for this occupation. Open one to read the practices and the protection it calls for.

Shiftwork Extended Workday: Health and Safety Issues
10 practices Open →
Shiftwork Rotational Shiftwork
0 practices Open →

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Stress

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Stress Workplace Stress – General
0 practices Open →

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Violence / Bullying

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Violence / Bullying Violence and Harassment in the Workplace
55 practices Open →
Violence / Bullying Working Alone - General
0 practices Open →

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WHMIS/GHS/SDS

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WHMIS/GHS/SDS WHMIS - General
0 practices Open →
WHMIS/GHS/SDS WHMIS - Safety Data Sheet (SDS)
0 practices Open →

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Working Alone

Notes for this occupation. Open one to read the practices and the protection it calls for.

Working Alone Working Alone - Working With Patients
52 practices Open →
Nurse (Registered)
HAS_ISSUE 26
HAS_REQUIREMENT 30
LINKS_TO 68
SOURCE_PAGE 1

0 broken or blocked links · 8 links resolved to a newer URL.

Other CCOHS pages 1

Fact sheets 59

PDFs 2

Section indexes 6