REPRODUCTIVE HAZARDS FACING FEMALE HEALTH-CARE WORKERS IN THE HOSPITAL - HOW THE NURSE PRACTITIONER CAN HELP

Female health care workers are often exposed to occupational hazards t hat may adversely affect their reproductive health and the health of t heir children. This article presents an overview of the problem and. t hrough a case study, focuses on a small sample of agents (aerosol anti microbials, disinfectants, and infectious diseases) that represent com mon hospital exposures with reproductive implications. The nurse pract itioner's role in identifying and counseling patients who may have exp osures to reproductive hazards is discussed. Copyright (C) 1995 by W.B . Saunders Company