A review of international studies on the occupational health risks of nurses

This paper is a review of international publications related to the occupational health risks of nurses. The research identifies the main scopes of the scientific interest of Western scientists in this regard. The authors consider the main groups of occupational health risks (biological, chemical, physical, and psychosocial ones) and analyze the most significant studies on each of them. The emphasis is placed on such common hazards as hepatitis B, HIV, tuberculosis, cytotoxic drugs, anesthetics, contaminated needle-stick injuries, back pain, and stress. The paper contains the recommendations of international experts to reduce the occupational risks that affect the health of the professional group under review. In the context of nurse shortage, the studies on occupational health risks in order to minimize them can enhance the prestige of the nursing profession.