[Working conditions in operating rooms].
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to get acquainted with the opinions of the nursing staff on working conditions at their workplace.


METHODS
The study was carried out in a group of 398 nurses working in various kinds of operating rooms at 11 public hospitals. A questionnaire was used as a major tool of this study. The questionnaires were filled in by 259 operating room nurses (circulating nurses) and 139 nurse-anesthetists.


CONCLUSIONS
The collected data show that working conditions in operating rooms do not ensure safety of the nursing staff at work. The main sources of problems are: work organization, technical factors, work equipment, work space, knowledge of hazards and strenuous factors among nurses, ways of preventing and/or limiting them. These elements are serious occupational risk factors influencing the work process and health status of nurses.
Kułagowska
Ewa
E
Pracownia Fizjologii Pracy, Instytut Medycyny Pracy i Zdrowia Srodowiskowego, Sosnowiec. e.kulagowska@imp.sosnowiec.pl
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D009871:Operating Room Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009873:Operating Rooms / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012449:Safety; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016526:Workload; D017132:Workplace / Q000458:organization & administration