Occupational risks for nursing interns according to their working conditions

Introduction. Working conditions are the combination of physical, organizational, and environmental factors present in the workplace. Occupational hazards are those elements that can harm the physical, mental, or emotional well-being of workers. In the field of nursing, these hazards include exposure to biological, chemical, and physical agents. Methodology. A quantitative, observational, cross-sectional, and correlational study was conducted with 75 eighth-semester nursing students from the Technical University of Ambato, Ecuador. Two validated questionnaires were used to assess working conditions and occupational hazards. Data were analyzed using Pearson and Spearman correlation tests. Results. 76 % of students reported a high biological risk, followed by 50,7 % for chemical risk, and 65,3 % for physical risk. Working conditions were perceived as inadequate, especially in intra-work aspects. A significant correlation was observed between poor working conditions and exposure to occupational hazards (p < 0,05).Conclusions. The alternative hypothesis is accepted in all four cases. That is, there is a direct and strong relationship between occupational conditions and hazards and their biological, chemical, and physical dimensions. Improving aspects such as workload and supervision could significantly reduce these risks, highlighting the need to establish safety policies and protocols in healthcare institutions.