Occupational Risks Exposed to ICU Nursing Staff

Occupational risks have been jeopardising the health of health professionals for years. Among the areas where nursing professionals work, Intensive Care Units (ICUs) are considered unhealthy places with high occupational health risks. Objective. Considering this reality, this study sought to describe the risks to which nursing professionals working in ICUs are exposed, as presented in the literature published over the last ten years. Method. A literature review was conducted using the LILACS, BDENF, MEDLINE and ProQuest databases, covering publications from 2010 to 2017 and the descriptors: occupational risks, nursing and intensive care units. Results. Applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria resulted in 12 articles. The results indicated ergonomic, biological and psychosocial risks present in the work routine of the nursing team, leading to changes in the health standards of these professionals. The studies analysed described the need for educational measures to minimise the risks to workers in the workplace.