ภาวะสุขภาพตามความเสี่ยงจากการทำงานของพยาบาลวิชาชีพ โรงพยาบาลระดับทุติยภูมิ จังหวัดน่าน

Abstract

Registered nurses are confronted with occupational health hazards resulting in risk of occupational illness and injuries. This descriptive study aimed to examine health status related to risk at work among 227 registered nurses in secondary hospitals in Nan Province. Data were collected during May to June 2013. The study instrument was a questionnaire of health status related to risk at work among registered nurses which had a validity index of 0.98 as confirmed by a panel of three experts. The reliability of this questionnaire was tested and yielded an acceptable level (0.85). Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics. The main results demonstrated that the most common of health problems possibly related to work, were musculoskeletal pain including shoulder pain (87.20%), neck pain (84.10%), back pain/flank (77.10%), eye fatigue from low light in workplace (75.30%), as well as stress from complicated work situation (71.40%). Work-related injuries during the final three-month period of the study was 22.50%, of which all were non-fatal injuries (100%). Injury causation was related to equipment impact or collision (43.14%), and sharp injuries (31.37%). Injured body parts were hands and fingers (52.94%). Study results indicate that occupational and environmental health nurses and relevant health personnel should recognize the importance of health status among registered nurses. Occupational health hazards and health status related to risk at work among registered nurses should be assessed. Further, information dissemination should be performed among registered nurses to increase their awareness of health risks at work, and to enhance health promotion program development for registered nurses. It is anticipated that these steps would reduce occupational illness and injuries, resulting in better quality of working life among registered nurses.