Vets/Nurses Health.
Posted on Thursday, January 11 @ 13:40:56 GMT by jenvetadmin
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A survey in Australia was carried out to question the occupational risks in Veterinary Nursing.
The full survey findings can be found here
http://www.ava.com.au/avj/private/0406/04060346.pdf?PHPSESSID=4cf
It makes very interesting reading:
The prevalence of exposure to X-radiation = 97%, anaesthetics = 96%, disinfectants = 96%, vaccines = 85%
More than 76% of vns were exposed to formaldehyde and 71% to pesticides/insecticides.
For all exposures except vaccines around 50% of the nurses exposed were worried about negative health consequences.
Acute injuries were common with 98% experiencing dog and cat bites/scratches.
71% reported needle stick injuries and 43% lacerations.
More than half (52%) suffered from chronic back/neck pain and 39% reported having allergies.
Other US studies suggest that these professionals could be at greater risk than the general population for several types of cancer (colon, skin, lymphohaematopoietic), trauma, motor vehicle accidents and suicide.
Occupational exposure to heavy, uncooperative animals or aggressive animals, X-radiation, zoonotic agents, stress and chemicals such as anaesthetics, pesticides, vaccines, prostaglandins, disinfectants and drugs all contribute towards the increased health risk.
An elevated risk for negative reproductive outcomes associated with certain exposures has been suggested for females.
Of course this is all applicable to female vets and is very worrying.
Of course we take care in practice to protect ourselves and our colleagues but are we risking our health/future?
How has your health been affected working as a vet/vn?
Discuss this interesting subject in the forums now.
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