Healthcare Workers

Healthcare is the fastest-growing sector of the U.S. financial system. It employs over 18 million workers. Women represent nearly 80% of the healthcare work force. Healthcare workers face a wide range of hazards on the job including:

  • Sharps injuries
  • Chemical and drug exposure
  • Back injuries
  • Latex allergies
  • Violence
  • Stress

Although it’s possible to prevent or reduce these hazards, healthcare workers continue to experience injuries and illnesses at work. Cases of nonfatal work injury and illness with healthcare workers are among the highest of any industry sector.

Spotlight

Safety and Health Information for Healthcare Workers

Caring for Yourself While Caring for Others

Caring for Yourself While Caring for Others is a NIOSH video for home health workers. It provides a brief overview of the Caring for Yourself While Caring for Others course.

Shift Work and Long Work Hours

Nurses tending to patient

NIOSH Training for Nurses on Shift Work and Long Work Hours

This training is an online, continuing education course for registered nurses and other healthcare professionals. The training is evidence-based and can help healthcare professionals and their managers with the demands of working:

  • In the evening
  • At night
  • Early in the morning
  • Long work hours

It provides workplace and personal strategies to improve sleep, alertness, energy, and overall health when on these work schedules.

To develop this training, NIOSH worked together with:

  • The American Nurses Association
  • Nursing faculty
  • Focus groups, staff nurses, and nurse managers

Continuing education certificates are available through the CDC Training and Continuing Education online system. Take this 3.5 hour course at any time that is convenient. You can also complete the training over a series of 15 or 20 minute time periods, if desired.

Page last reviewed: January 13, 2017