1. Background There continues to be a shortage of RNs. A possible short fall of up to 36% is predicted by 2020 (USDHHS, 2006). Hospital nurse staffing is a matter of concern because of the effects a shortage has on patient safety and quality of care (Buerhaus, et al., 2005; Ulrich, et al., 2005). Hospitals rank in the top 5 industries generating job related injuries and illnesses (Leigh, 2004). RNs rank in the top 10 of US occupations at risk for occupational injury and illness (BLS, 2002; Waehrer, Leigh & Miller, 2005). Much of the information on occupational injury and health problems comes from national data sources which do not include unreported claims. Additionally, underreporting by RNs is likely. Nursing is inherently stressful; higher patient acuity levels and staffing shortages are contributing to increasing job stress. Job stress is known to adversely affect productivity, health and well being, and worker turn over (Hall, 2004). Stress related health problems in RNs also contribute to decreased performance and quality of patient care (Milliken, et al, 2007). Thus, understanding factors that may predict the health and safety of RNs is imperative to assure patient safety and retention of nurses in the hospital workforce. F Factors Affecting Health and Safety of RNs Employed at the Bedside Susan Letvak PhD, RN The University of North Carolina at Greensboro Abstract  The mean job stress score was 47.9 (scale of 0-120). Job stress was significantly associated with gender, hours worked per day, shift work, worry about injury, and being unable to meet patient needs (p<.05).  1 in 4 (24.8%) reported an occupational injury within the past 5 years. Most frequent injuries were musculoskeletal injuries (23.2%), bruises (12.4%) and needle sticks (12.4%) 12% worry about receiving an injury often and 63% occasionally worry.  22.4% reported a health problem related to work as a nurse. Most frequent health problems were headaches (23.8%), back pain (21.4%), joint pain (16.7%), anxiety (15.8%), stomach problems (14.9%), depression (12.4%) and insomnia (12.1%).  Predictors of occupational injury included job satisfaction (.015) and job stress score (.008).  Predictors of job related health problems included age (<.001), years worked as a RN (<.001), job satisfaction (.001), perceived ability to provide quality care (.004) and job stress score (.0006). Implications Study findings support the NIOSH Model of Job Stress which proposes that individual and workplace variables contribute to job stress which creates risk factors for job related injuries and illnesses. Interventions are necessary to decrease job stress in RNs at the bedside. Interventions are also necessary to decrease occupational injuries and associated health problems if we are to retain nurses in the workforce in the face of an acute nursing shortage. Methods Findings Demographics TITLE: Factors Affecting Health and Safety of RNs Employed at the Bedside. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of individual variables, work place variables, and job stress on the health and safety of RNs employed at the bedside. METHODS: A descriptive survey design was utilized. FINDINGS: One in four nurses had an occupational injury in the past two years and 22.4% reported a job related illness. Predictors of injury included job satisfaction and job stress scores. Predictors of job related illness included age, years worked as a RN, job satisfaction, quality of care provided and job stress score. CONCLUSIONS: Job stress is impacting hospital RN health and safety. RNs suffer from high rates of occupational injury and illness which may impact patient care and their retention in the workforce. Mean Percent Age 40.15 Gender Female Male 91.6% 8.4% Race African American Caucasian 13.0% 81.4% Employment Status Full time Part time 87% 9.6% Years Worked as a RN 10.57 Hours Worked/Day 11.6 Hours Worked/Week 37.44 Usual Shift Worked 12 hr days 12 hr nights 8 hr days Other (evening/nights) 55.9% 27.6% 14.6% 1.9% Unit Worked Medical-Surgical Intensive Care Mother/Child (OB/peds) Emergency Room Other 47.4% 18.3% 16.4% 6.2% 11.7% Thanks to Raymond Buck, PhD for assistance with statistical analysis. References Buerhaus, P.I., Donelan, K., & Ulrich, B.T., et al. (2005). Is the shortage of hospital registered nurses getting better or worse? Nursing Economics, 23(2), 61-96. Hall, D. (2004). Work related stress of registered nurses in hospital settings. Journal for Nurses in Staff Development, 2(1), 6-14. Leigh, J.P., Waehrer, G., Miller, T.R., & Keenan, C. (2004). Costs of occupational injury and illness across Industries. Scandinavian Journal of Work Environment and Health, 30(3), 199-205. Milliken, T.F., Clements, P.T., Tillman, H.J. (2007).The impact of stress management on nurse productivity and retention. Nursing Economics, 25(4), 203-210. Ulrich, B., Buerhaus, P., & Donelan, K., et al. (2005). How RNs view the work environment. Journal of Nursing Administration, 35, 389-396. US Bureau of Labor Statistics (2002). Injuries, illnesses and fatalities. Available at: www.bls.gov. US Department of Health and Human Services (2004). The registered nurse population: national sample Survey of registered nurses. Available at: www.hrsa.gov. Waehrer, G., Leigh, J.P., & Miller, T.R. (2005). Costs of occupational injury and illness within the healthcare Sector. International Journal of Health Services, 35(2), 343-359.  A cross sectional survey design was used.  All staff nurses at three hospitals in a southern state were invited to participate. One hospital was a 1000 bed tertiary care medical center with 1700 RNs and the other two were community based hospitals with approximately 200 beds and 400 RNs.  The survey tool measured demographic variables (age, sex, ethnicity/race, marital status, total years worked as a RN, height and weight), work place variables (employment status, type of unit, average number of patients cared for, perceived quality of care the RN provided, ability to meet of the RN to meet patient care needs, and job satisfaction), job stress (Health Professions Stress Inventory), job related injuries (yes/no and type of injury), and job related health problems (specific disorders and an overall rating of health).  Fully complete surveys were returned from 187 RNs at the largest hospital (13% of RNs employed at the bedside), 136 RNs at the second hospital (29% of the RNs employed at the bedside), and 100 RNs from the third hospital (31% of the RNs employed at the bedside).