The present study addresses the issue of the work performed by the nursing team and it is focused on the perception the nursing staff has of their working conditions. This research is a non-experimental investigation, with a quantitative approach. The objective of this paper is to identify and discuss the working conditions of the nursing staff in charge of the patient wards of a University Hospital (UH, Portuguese acronym). The research field was a University Hospital in Rio de Janeiro, and it was conducted with a sample group of 296 nursing employees in the year of 2008. Among the results, biological, physical, ergonomic and chemical factors were highlighted. We conclude that the working conditions are inadequate and adverse to the health of the nursing staff. This study gives the employee and the institution elements to discuss the occupational environment in order to propose changes in the work process.
Working conditions; Occupational Health; Occupational risks
