OCCUPATIONAL HAZARDS IN EMERGENCY CARE: EXPERIENCES OF A NURSING STUDENT

Abstract

In an emergency department, nurses are exposed to various occupational risks, which are aggravated by the high volume of care and the intense pace characteristic of these settings. This study aimed to report the experience of a nursing student in an emergency department, with the purpose of identifying the main occupational risks faced by the team and the safety practices adopted in daily care. This is an experience report with a descriptive and qualitative approach, based on experiences between December 2025 and March 2026 in a university hospital, involving participation in care procedures and observation of the nursing team’s routine. This experience made it possible to recognize how biological, ergonomic, physical, chemical, psychosocial, and accident risks are part of the department’s reality. It was also observed that risk perception varied according to the care context, being greater in situations involving patients under contact precautions and lower during routine activities, favoring unsafe practices. It is concluded that occupational risks are related to organizational conditions and the dynamics of the service, reinforcing the importance of adequate staffing, continuing health education, and strengthening the safety culture to reduce risks and improve the quality of care.