OCCUPATIONAL HAZARDS AND ITS REPERCUSSIONS IN NURSING PROFESSIONALS WITHIN THE HOSPITAL SCOPE

Abstract

Objective: To verify the repercussions of occupational hazards in nursing professionals working in the hospital area. Methods: Designed as an integrative review of the literature in the period between 2010 to 2016 in the SciELO, MEDLINE, LILACS, BDENF, and IBECS databases. Inclusion criteria were: publications in Portuguese, English, and Spanish; Free full text availability; Publications related to the object of study. The exclusion criteria were: Monographs, dissertations, theses; Review, opinion, and reflection articles; Repeated articles in the databases; Articles that refer to primary care professionals; Articles regarding other health professionals. The analysis of the material was done through the Bardin's Thematic Analysis. Results: After the articles reading, three categories emerged: 1) Epidemiological profile of the study population; 2) Repercussions of biological hazards for nursing professionals; 3) Other hazards and repercussions. Conclusion: The analysis showed that the way nursing work is organized in the hospital environment, as well as its process, are the biggest cause of exposure to occupational hazards to workers. Additionally, a major consequence of this exposure is the physical or psychological illness of these nurse professionals within the hospital scope.