Associations of anxiety and fatigue with hazardous occupational conditions of Korean nurses in early pregnancy: A cross‐sectional study.

Aim: To identify occupational conditions associated with anxiety and fatigue among Korean nurses in early pregnancy. Background: Pregnant nurses, like non‐pregnant hospital nurses, are exposed to dangerous and stressful work environments, which can affect fatigue and anxiety. Design and Methods: This cross‐sectional study enrolled 1490 nurses who participated in the early pregnancy module in the Korea Nurses' Health Study between 2014 and 2020. Hierarchical linear regression analyses were employed to identify the factors associated with anxiety and fatigue among nurses in early pregnancy. Results: One‐fifth of participants were working night shifts, and more than two‐thirds were working overtime. When using antineoplastic drugs and disinfectants, the rate of use of protective equipment varied depending on the size of the hospital. Working overtime and lifting heavy objects were associated with increased anxiety and fatigue among nurses. Conclusion: Overtime work was associated with both anxiety and fatigue among pregnant nurses. Pregnant hospital nurses were exposed to both night shift and overtime work. Therefore, hospital managers should improve hazardous working environments to protect the health of nurses in early pregnancy and their fetuses. Summary statement: What is already known about this topic? Nurses in early pregnancy are exposed to work environments that can affect their reproductive health.The relationship between mental health and work environment among nurses in early pregnancy is poorly understood. What this paper adds? Despite legal guidelines, some pregnant nurses performed potentially harmful work such as night shifts, overtime and heavy lifting.There were differences in the occupational risks to which the study participants were exposed depending on hospital size.Overtime and heavy lifting were related to anxiety and fatigue in study participants. The implications of this paper: To protect nurses in early pregnancy, an appropriate maternal safety programme should be developed for hospital work environments.Education programmes should be implemented for nurses in early pregnancy on safety guidelines such as the use of personal protective equipment (PPE).Physically difficult tasks can increase fatigue and anxiety among nurses in early pregnancy, so legal and institutional regulations focusing on safe working environments should be strengthened. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]