OCCUPATIONAL HAZARD: PERCEPTION OF THE NURSES ON A PUBLIC HOSPITAL

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the nurses' perception of the existing occupational hazards in the medical and surgical clinical units of a public hospital. This is an exploratory-descriptive study, of a qualitative nature, conducted in a large public hospital located in a municipality of the southwestern region of Bahia. The population consisted of 11 nurses working in the morning and in the afternoon in the medical and surgical units, totalizing 11 participants. The survey was conducted from 01 to March 30 2016 through recorded interviews using a semi-structured script, elaborated and applied by the researcher. The interviews took place individually, in the workplace, in the time previously determined by the mentioned professionals. The data were analyzed in order to identify the categories and the thematic units from Bardin’s methodological referential. From the analysis of the responses emerged three categories, namely: 1 – Conception of occupational hazards; 2 – Risks perceived in the workplace and 3 – Prevention actions for accident and illnesses in the workplace. Regarding the occupational hazards, the focus of the interviewed were the biological risk, and, consequently, the use of PPE for this risk was the preventive action most widely employed. We conclude that ongoing education is needed regarding all existing occupational hazards in the working environment. The institution must be made aware about the difficulties experienced by these professionals related to the overload of work and to the material resources.