Health and safety risk at a skilled nursing facility. Nursing assistants' perceptions.

Little is known about the perceptions nursing assistants certified (NAC) have related to their occupational health and safety risks and how these perceptions influence the safety precautions taken. The purpose of this study was to describe the perceptions of the occupational health and safety risks perceived by NAC, along with determining the protective mechanisms they used to prevent injury and illness. Ten NAC employed by a skilled nursing facility were interviewed using a semi-structured interview guide. Numerous hazards and protective mechanisms were identified and these were categorized and environmental, physical or cognitive in nature. Based on the NAC perceptions of their occupational hazards, there were a number of areas in which they were ignorant to concepts the administration believed to be readily available. While the facility has a number of health promotion and safety programs already in place, these alone seem inadequate to meet the perceived needs of the NAC. Strategies are needed in three specific areas to address the knowledge deficits and enhance the overall effectiveness of improving the health and safety of the NAC--communication, fostering teamwork, and educational and training opportunities.