The Division of Health and Safety at the MNA provides members with assistance related to their health and safety at work. The Division staff develops and present education on safe working conditions and provides advocacy addressing hazards and hazardous conditions in the healthcare work environment.

The elected members of the Congress on Health and Safety and volunteer member of Task Force groups on Workplace Violence and Abuse Prevention, Emergency Preparedness and Safe Patient Handling bring issues of concern and provide input into the work of the department staff to assure that the voice of the Registered Nurse, the direct care provider, is heard and acted upon.

Hazards and hazardous conditions in the healthcare environment are many. Exposure to hazardous drugs and bloodborne pathogens, air quality compromised by toxic environmental cleaning chemicals, heavy lifting and moving of patients and medical equipment, workplace violence and abuse, latex allergy and excessively long work hours are all examples of the hazards addressed by the Division of Health and Safety. Click on the links above to learn more about how these issues are currently being addressed.

MNA Health and Safety Educational Events can be found in our Continuing Education section. MNA CE On-Line Programs also address workplace health and safety.

MNA members and staff involved with the work of this Division believe that hazards that affect the health and safety of nurses also affect the health and safety of the patients they care for.